Sisyrinchium angustifolium
Sisyrinchium capillare
Bermudienne à feuilles étroites, blue-eyed grass, narrow-leaf blue-eyed-grass, stout blue-eyed grass
needle blue-eyed grass
branched, with 1–2 nodes, 2.3–5 mm wide, glabrous, margins often minutely denticulate especially basally, similar in color and texture to stem body;
first internode 10–30 cm, usually longer than leaves;
distalmost node with 1–3 branches.
apparently simple, wiry, wings present as slight ridges, 0.5–1 mm wide, glabrous, margins minutely denticulate, similar in color and texture to stem body.
blades glabrous, bases not persistent in fibrous tufts.
blades glabrous, bases not persistent in fibrous tufts.
borne singly;
spathes usually green, obviously wider than supporting branch, glabrous, keels denticulate to entire;
outer 18–38 mm, 2–9.5 mm longer than inner, usually tapering evenly towards apex, margins basally connate 4–6 mm;
inner with keel evenly curved or straight, hyaline margins 0.1–0.3 mm wide, apex acuminate to acute, ending 0.2–0.7 mm proximal to green apex.
usually paired, closely subtended by long, bractlike leaf that often obscures first (inner) inflorescence, sessile or second (outer) with branch to 6.6 mm;
spathes often purplish, glabrous, keels entire;
outer 12.1–14.7 mm, 0.9 mm shorter to 2.7 mm longer than inner, usually tapering evenly towards apex, margins distinct or connate basally to 1.5 mm;
inner with keel straight or evenly curved, hyaline margins 0.2–0.4 mm wide, apex acute to occasionally obtuse, ending 0.2–1.4 mm proximal to green apex.
tepals pale blue to violet, occasionally white, bases yellow;
outer tepals 7.7–12.5 mm, apex rounded or emarginate, aristate;
filaments connate ± entirely, stipitate-glandular basally;
ovary similar in color to foliage.
tepals pale blue to bluish violet, bases yellow;
outer tepals 7.7–12 mm, apex emarginate, aristate;
filaments connate ± entirely, glabrous;
ovary similar in color to foliage.
dark brown or black, sometimes with purplish tinge, ± globose, 4–7 mm;
pedicel spreading or ascending.
tan or light brown, ± globose, 2–3.3 mm, glabrous;
pedicel loosely erect or spreading.
globose to obconic, lacking obvious depression, 0.5–1.2 mm, rugulose.
globose to obconic, lacking obvious depression, 0.8–1.2 mm, rugulose.
= 96.
Sisyrinchium angustifolium
Sisyrinchium capillare
Sisyrinchium membranaceum E. P. Bicknell probably belongs here; Bicknell indicated that its relationship was “with S. graminoides” and his description falls within that of S. angustifolium, except for slightly shorter spathe bracts.
In previous floras, Sisyrinchium angustifolium often has been confused with S. montanum, especially when S. graminoides was segregated. Branching seems to be the primary point of confusion. The original descriptions of S. angustifolium and S. graminoides clearly indicated branching while that of S. montanum indicates it to be single-stemmed. There is some slight similarity between S. montanum var. crebrum and S. angustifolium with respect to spathe connation and dry color, and chromosome counts indicate that both have 2n = 96, but there is some indication that breeding barriers may exist (D. B. Ward 1959).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Sisyrinchium capillare has, at times, been considered synonymous with S. albidum (e.g., D. T. MacRoberts 1984). The very narrow, almost wingless stems and glabrous filaments will help distinguish it from S. albidum, which is much more wide-ranging.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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