IRIS FAMILY. Iridaceae. 



. Blue=eyed 

 Grass 



Sisyrinchium 

 angustifolium 

 3t Deep vio!et= 

 blue 

 May-July 



divisions of the shell fall in August, the blackberrylike, 

 fleshy-coated, black seeds are exposed to view. The name 

 is East Indian. 2-4 feet high. The plant has escaped 

 from gardens to roadsides and low hills, from south N. 

 Y. and Pa., south to Ga., and west to Ind. and Mo. 



A stiff grasslike little plant with linear r 

 pale blue-green leaves less than the some- 

 what twisted and flat flower-stem in 

 height. The flowers are perfect, with a 

 prominent pistil, and three stamens ; the 

 six divisions are blunt and tipped with a 

 thornlike point ; they are violet-blue, or 

 sometimes white ; the centre of the flower is beautifully 

 marked with a six-pointed white star accented with 

 bright golden yellow, each one of the star-points pene- 

 trating the deeper violet-blue of the petallike division. 

 The -flower is mostly cross-fertilized by bees, and the 

 beelike flies (Syrphidce). Seed capsule globular. The 

 name is Greek in origin, and is meaningless. 6-13 in- 

 ches high. In fields and moist meadows, common from 

 Me., south to Va., and west. Stem j^-J inch wide. 



A similar species which has usually two 

 unequal branches springing from a con- 

 spicuous grasslike leaf ; the leaves a trifle 

 bloomy and very light green ; less stiff than 

 those of the preceding species, and &-% 

 inch wide. The flower petals are also 

 sparsely woolly on the outer surface. 8-16 

 In grassy places, and sometimes on the bor- 

 ders of woods, from Mass., south, and Minn., south to La. 

 A tall, bending species, similar to the 

 preceding, but lighter green and somewhat 

 woolly; a slenderer and weaker stem, some- 

 times nearly 2 feet long, and reclining, ter- 

 minating in two or three almost equal 

 branches. Leaves very narrow, bracts 

 somewhat purplish and dry papery ; the flower a trifle 

 smaller, the outside somewhat woolly. The seeds but 

 slightly pitted or nearly smooth. In wet meadows or 

 brackish marshes or sandy soil, Vt., Me. to Fla., near the 

 coast. (Bicknell, Torrey Bot. Club Bull, 23 : 134, 1896.) 

 66 



Stout Blue- 

 eyed Grass 



Sisyrinchium 

 gramineum 

 Deep violet- 

 blue 

 May-June 



inches high. 



Eastern Blue- 

 eyed Grass 



Sisyrinchium 

 Atlanticum 

 Violet-blue 

 May-June 



