Sisyrinchium idahoense
- Scientific Name: Sisyrichium idahoense
- Family: Iridaceae
- Common Names: Blue-eyed grass, Idaho blue-eyed grass
Contents
Taxonomy
| Solidago lepida | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Subkingdom: | Tracheobionta |
| Phylum: | Spermatophyta |
| Subphylum: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Subclass: | Lilianae |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Iridaceae |
| Genus: | Sisyrinchium L. |
| Species: | Sisyrinchium idahoense E.P. Bicknell |
Description
Showy, tufted perennial to 40 cm tall; stems usually flattened and wing-margined. Leaves mostly basal, long (to 20 cm.) and very narrow (< 2 mm broad).
Flowers consisting of 6 tepals, blue to purplish-blue with yellow centers. Flowers are small (about 2 cm across) and arranged in a terminal cluster of two to five flowers above a pair of sheathing, leaf-like bracts, emerging much lie irises.
1 prominent pistil and 3 stamens, ovary in inferior and pubescent.
Fruits egg-shaped capsules to 6 mm long, with black seeds [1][2]
Bloom Period
March to June
Distribution
Both S. i. var. occidentale (outer tepals 8-13 mm, inner spathe 12-20mm; spathe keel margins entire) and S. i. var. segetum (outer tepals 10-17 mm; spathe keel margins generally denticulate) have been reported in the South Salish Sea region. [3][2]
Habitat
Ecological Setting
Moist to wet grassy meadows, vernal seepage areas, marshes, roadside ditches; at low to middle elevations [1]
Soil Texture
Fine to well-drained.
Soil Reaction / Salinity
Mildly acidic to alkaline (pH 5.5 to 7.5) [4]
Shade Tolerance
Full sun to partial shade [5]
Successional Status
Considered a "weedy" species and a good early secession species after disturbance. [6]
Uses
Site Rehabilitation
Possible reclamation species in moister pockets in selected sites [7]
Wildlife
Solitary bees of the family Megachilidae are mainly responsible for cross-pollination in natural populations. [4]
Landscaping
Mass-plant to create a showy display in a border or a rock garden [5]
Propagation
Seed Propagation
Flowers are protandrous, thereby promoting out-crossing and at the same time reducing the chances for self pollination. S. idahoensis is an octoploid species and often exhibits a lag of up to 24 hours between anther maturation and stigma receptivity [4]
Fruit and Seed Collection and Extraction
Collect capsules by hand when ripe into collecting bags. Allow to dry further and then shake bags to extract seeds [8]
Seed Storage
Cold store at 5º C for up to three years [8]
Fruit/Seed Dormancy and Treatment
Seal seeds in a Ziploc-style bag or a Rubbermaid-style container in equal amounts of seed to perlite or vermiculite, and add just enough water to moisten the mixture. Cold stratify at 5º C for 8 to 12 weeks [8]
Outplanting Characteristics and Requirements
Out-plant in the fall to take advantage of natural moisture or plant in spring and provide supplementary watering. Successfully self-seeds in situ. Can be successfully divided in situ in the spring by simply teasing plants apart and replanting the resulting clumps [9]
Photo Gallery
photos by Pat Montegue
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bowcutt, F., & Hamman, Sarah. (2016). Vascular plants of the South Sound prairies (First ed.). Olympia, Washington: The Evergreen State College Press.
- ↑ Hitchcock, C. L., Cronquist, A., Giblin, D., & Legler, B. et al. (2018). Flora of the Pacific Northwest: an illustrated manual. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Henderson, 1976
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Tenenbaum et al., 1994
- ↑ Alverson, 2002
- ↑ Winters, 2002
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Schultz et al., 2001
- ↑ R. Bridgeman, pers. comm.
