Sisyrinchium

Sisyrinchium bermudiana L. (type species)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Iridaceae
Subfamily:	Iridoideae
Tribe:	Sisyrinchieae
Genus:	Sisyrinchium L.
Species
Main article: List of Sisyrinchium species
Synonyms^[1]
Bermudiana Mill. Hydastylus Dryand. ex Salisb. Souza Vell. Paneguia Raf. Pogadelpha Raf. Echthronema Herb. Eriphilema Herb. Glumosia Herb. Oreolirion E.P.Bicknell

Sisyrinchium is a large genus of annual to perennial flowering plants in the family Iridaceae. Native to the New World, the species are known as blue-eyed grasses. Although they are not true grasses (Poaceae), they are monocots.^[2]

Several species in the eastern United States are threatened or endangered. This may be due to niche species emerging from their unique tendency toward rapid speciation which helps them adapt to specialized arenic habitats.^[3]

Description

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These are not true grasses, but many species have the general appearance of grasses, as they are low-growing plants with long, thin leaves. They often grow on grasslands. Many species resemble irises, to which they are more closely related. Most species grow as perennial plants, from a rhizome, though some are short-lived (e.g. Sisyrinchium striatum), and some are annuals (e.g. Sisyrinchium iridifolium).

The flowers are relatively simple and often grow in clusters.

Many species, particularly the South American ones, are not blue, despite the common name. The genus includes species with blue, white, yellow, and purple petals, often with a contrasting centre. Of the species in the United States, the Western Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum) is sometimes found with white flowers, while the California Golden-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium californicum) has yellow flowers.

Taxonomy

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The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, based on the species Sisyrinchium bermudiana (commonly called Bermudiana). The taxonomy of this genus is rather perplexing and confusing,^{[to whom?]} as several of these species, such as Sisyrinchium angustifolium, form complexes with many variants named as species. More genetic research and cladistic analysis need to be performed to sort out the relationships between the species. Some species, notably Sisyrinchium douglasii, have been transferred to the separate genus Olsynium.

Etymology

Sisyrinchíon is the Greek word, recorded by Pliny and Theophrastus, for the Barbary nut iris (Iris or Moraea sisyrinchium), and refers to the way the corm tunics resemble a shaggy goat's-hair coat, sisýra.^[4] Authors as early as 1666^[5] give the dubious etymology of Latin sūs "pig" and Greek rhynchos "nose", referring to pigs grubbing the roots. As Goldblatt and Manning explain, "the reason for applying the name to a genus of New World Iridaceae was apparently arbitrary."^[6]

Selected species

Main article: List of Sisyrinchium species

There are up to 200 species,^[7] including:

Sisyrinchium albidum Raf.
Sisyrinchium angustifolium Mill. – narrow-leaf blue-eyed-grass
Sisyrinchium atlanticum E.P.Bicknel - eastern blue-eyed grass
Sisyrinchium bellum S.Watson – western blue-eyed grass or Californian blue-eyed grass
Sisyrinchium bermudiana – bermudiana
Sisyrinchium californicum – golden blue-eyed grass, yellow-eyed-grass, and golden-eyed-grass
Sisyrinchium campestre Bickn.
Sisyrinchium dichotomum – wishbone blue-eyed grass, white irisette, and reflexed blue-eyed grass
Sisyrinchium elmeri – Elmer's blue-eyed grass
Sisyrinchium funereum – Funeral Mountain blue-eyed grass and Death Valley blue-eyed-grass
Sisyrinchium groenlandicum - Greenland blue-eyed grass
Sisyrinchium halophilum – Nevada blue-eyed grass
Sisyrinchium idahoense Bickn. – Idaho blue-eyed grass
Sisyrinchium longipes – timberland blue-eyed grass
Sisyrinchium micranthum – blue pigroot or striped rush-leaf
Sisyrinchium montanum Greene – strict blue-eyed grass, American blue-eyed-grass
Sisyrinchium platense I.M.Johnst
Sisyrinchium pruinosum – spotted blue-eyed grass or dotted blue-eyed grass
Sisyrinchium rosulatum - white Blue-Eyed Grass Flower with maroon center, found in East Texas
Sisyrinchium sarmentosum – mountain blue-eyed grass and pale blue-eyed-grass
Sisyrinchium septentrionale – northern blue-eyed grass
Sisyrinchium striatum – pale yellow-eyed-grass or satin flower