IRIS FAMILY. Iridaceas. 



Blue=eyed 

 Grass 



Sisyrinchium 

 angustifolium 

 Deep vioIet= 

 blue 

 May-July 



divisions of the shell fall in August, the blackberry like, 

 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; 

 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. 



A similar species which has usually two 

 unequal branches springing from a con- 

 spicuous grasslike leaf ; the leaves a trifle 

 woolly and very light green ; less stiff than 

 those of the preceding species, and some- 

 what wider. 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 southwest to La. 

 A tall, bending species, similar to the 

 preceding, but lighter green and somewhat 

 woolly ; a slenderer and weaker stem, sonic- 

 times nearly 2 feet long, and reclining, ter- 

 minating in two or three almost equal 

 branches. Leaves very narrow, bracts 

 somewhat purplish and drj- papery ; the flower a trifle 

 smaller, the outside somewhat w^oolly. The seeds but 

 slightly pitted or nearly smooth. In wet meadows or 

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

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

 66 



Stout Blue= 

 eyed Grass 



ASisyriiichiiim 

 anceps 

 Deep violet= 

 blue 

 May-June 



inches high. 



Eastern Blue= 

 eyed Grass 



Sisyrinchiiini 

 Atlanticuin 

 Violet=blue 

 May-June 



