50 IRIS FAMILY 



minal clusters on leafy stem 1-3 ft. tall. Sepals 3, petal-like, 

 2-4 in. long. Petals 3, shorter. Leaves slightly glaucous, 

 sword-shaped, 1-3 ft. long, upper leaves shorter. Swamps 

 and low grounds. Blooming in late winter and spring. Fla. 

 to Ark. and northward. 



Blue-Eyed Grass. Satin Flower (Genus Sisyrinchmm) 



Grass-like leaves, flattened, two-edged flowering-stems, 

 and loose terminal clusters of small blue flowers are char- 

 acteristics by which plants of this genus are easily recog- 

 nized. Several species that are only slightly different from 

 one another in general appearance are common in grassy 

 places, and correct identification is not always an easy 

 matter. 



Sisjrrinchiimi graminoides. Flowers blue, 6-parted, about 

 V2 iu. across, in one or more terminal clusters which are 

 enclosed at base by 2 green bracts. Sepals and petals alike, 

 3 each, stamens 3. Stems flattened, 6-20 in. tall. Growing 

 in loose tufts. Leaves grasslike, usually shorter than stem. 

 Pinelands and meadows. Blooming all the year. Fla. to 

 Texas and northward. 



Sisyrinchimn xerophylluin. Flowers blue, ^2 in. or more 

 across. Leaves thickish, somewhat glaucous, as long as or 

 longer than stem. Plants tufted, with much brown fibre at 

 base. Dry soil. Fla. 



Nemastylis (Genus Nemastylis) 



Less common than the blue-eyed grasses to which it is 

 related, but far more noticeable, the nemastylis has a 

 beautiful bright blue flower on a slender, leafy stem. 



Nemastylis coelestina. Flowers blue, 1-2 in. across, usually 

 solitary, on leafy stem 1-2 ft. tall. Petals and sepals similar, 

 3 each, stamens 3. Leaves narrow, 5-18 in. long. Pinelands 

 and prairies. Blooming from spring to fall. Fla. and Ga. to 

 Texas. 



