Blue-eyed-grasses
What are they?
These small, herbaceous perennials are members of the iris family (Iridaceae) and show family features that include linear, grass-like leaves that are typically held erect with the flattened sides at right angles to the ground. The flowers have six tepals (three petals and three sepals that are all similar) and three stamens and typically appear one or two at a time from small clusters that are more or less encased in leafy bracts when in bud. The seeds are carried in small, globular capsules. Despite the group's English name, several species have yellow flowers and are thus known individually as yellow-eyed-grasses.
Where are they found?
These are popular garden plants and may be found on rough ground or roadsides as garden escapes or where garden waste may have been dumped.
Identification
There are many blue-flowered species that can be very difficult to tell apart, but currently we only have one recorded in our region. The flowers of many species have distinct tepal tips, which are deeply notched and with a spike-like tip in the notch (referred to by botanists as a mucronate tip), which helps to identify them as a group. Flower colour is sufficient to identify the species currently recorded in East Anglia.
Bermudan Blue-eyed-grass Sisyrinchium bermudiana
Introduced from Bermuda as a garden ornamental and recorded once from Norfolk. Flowers June to July. A small plant, typically to 30cm or less in height. Differs from other blue species grown in cultivation in its seed capsules, which develop arching or pendulous stems as they ripen.
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Californian Yellow-eyed-grass Sisyrinchium californicum
Introduced from western North America as a garden ornamental and recorded from single locations in both Norfolk and Suffolk. Flowers June to July. A small plant, typically to 20cm in height (but may be taller when growing amongst rank vegetation).
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Pale Yellow-eyed-grass Sisyrinchium striatum
Introduced from South America as a garden ornamental and commonly grown in the region. Recorded from a handful of locations in Suffolk but certainly under-recorded and may turn up in a variety of urban and suburban habitats. Flowers June to July. A taller plant than the other species covered here, with stems and leaves growing to 45-75cm in height and forming spreading clumps. The primrose-yellow flowers appear in tiered clusters on upright spikes.
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