Sisyrinchium idahoense E.P. Bicknell
Idaho blue-eyed-grass (Idaho blue-eyed grass)
Iridaceae (Iris family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Idaho blue-eyed-grass (Idaho blue-eyed grass)
Iridaceae (Iris family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
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.
USDA Species Characteristics
Flower Colour:
Blue
Blooming Period:
Mid Spring
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present from Spring to Summer
Source: The USDA
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Sisyrinchium idahoense
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)
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) |
841 | 1 | 1150 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
9 | 0 | 40 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
182 | 86 | 350 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
4 | 2 | 6 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
D | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
17 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
IDF | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
BG(1), CDF(1), CWH(2), IDF(13) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
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.Status Information
| Scientific Name | Origin Status | Provincial Status | BC List (Red Blue List) | COSEWIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sisyrinchium idahoense var. idahoense | Native | S3S4 | Yellow | Not Listed |
| Sisyrinchium idahoense var. macounii | Native | S3S4 | Yellow | Not Listed |
| Sisyrinchium idahoense var. occidentale | Native | S1S3 | Red | Not Listed |
| Sisyrinchium idahoense var. segetum | Native | S1 | Red | Not Listed |
BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer.