Sisyrinchium idahoense var. macounii E.P. Bicknell (E.P. Bicknell) Douglass M. Hend.
Idaho blue-eyed-grass (Macoun's blue-eyed grass)
Iridaceae (Iris family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jim Riley     (Photo ID #12720)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Sisyrinchium idahoense var. macounii
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Perennial tufted herb from a fibrous root; stems simple or sometimes branched, flat, winged, 10-42 cm tall.
Leaves:
Mostly basal, the blades several, linear, 10-30 cm long, (0.5) 2-2.5 (4.5) mm wide, sheathing, the margins entire to fine-toothed, the tips long-pointed; stem leaves 1 or few at the nodes, similar to basal.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of 2 to 7 showy, erect to nodding flowers on slender, smooth to slightly glandular, 2- to 2.5-cm long stalks; flowers pale blue to purple or deep violet-purple, of 6 distinct, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate segments, these similar, 1-1.5 (2) cm long, rounded to blunt, abruptly bristle-tipped, the tubes slightly inflated below, 1-2 mm long; bracts 2, unequal, the outer one usually exceeding the flowers; filaments fused about 1/3 their length; anthers (1) 1.3-2 (2.5) mm long, yellow.
Fruits:
Capsules, egg-shaped to globe-shaped, 4-5.5 (6.5) mm long; seeds numerous, globe-shaped to angled, black, (1) 1.3-1.8 mm wide.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Sisyrinchium idahoense var. macounii

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
299 2 597
Slope Gradient (%)
19 0 38

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

190 190 190
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
2 1 4
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
B
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
2
Modal BEC Zone Class
BWBS

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

BWBS(1), CDF(1)

Habitat and Range

Moist grassy meadows in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; var. idahoense - rare in S BC; var. macounii - rare on S Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands; var. idahoense S to WY, ID and N CA; var. macounii - S to WA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Sisyrinchium angustifolium Mill.
Sisyrinchium macounii E.P. Bicknell