Sisyrinchium demissum
| Sisyrinchium demissum | |
|---|---|
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| Sisyrinchium demissum flowering in Sweetwater Wetland Park, Tucson, Arizona | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Iridaceae |
| Genus: | Sisyrinchium |
| Species: | S. demissum
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| Binomial name | |
| Sisyrinchium demissum Greene (1890)
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Sisyrinchium demissum, commonly called stiff blue-eyed grass is small member of the iris family in genus Sisyrinchium. The plant's natural range is in the western United states and northern Mexico. It is sometimes grown in garden settings in its native range.
Description[edit]
Sisyrinchium demissum is a herbaceous plant that grows as much as 50 centimeters tall.[3] It has a tufted growth pattern that makes it resemble a clump of grass (cespitose).[4] The leaves spring directly from the base of the plant (basal leaves) and are very narrow at just 0.5–5 millimeters in width, but will usually be just short of half the total height of the plant's flowering stems when blooming.[3] The roots are dense and fine to somewhat thickened.[5]
The flowers are alone at the end of branched, flattened stems.[6] Each flowering stem will branch once or twice, with the first node 8–34 centimeters up the stem.[4] The two bracts under the flowers are relatively large (spathes),[7] wider than the supporting branch and green in color, without hairs, and taper to a pointed end. The flowers have six tepals, structures that resemble both petals and sepals.[3] They are dark blue-violet with bright yellow bases and have three or five darker veins running their length.[7] The outer tepals are 6–15 millimeters in length.[3] In the center of the flower is a column of three stamens, also yellow.[8] The blooming season is long, from mid spring to early fall.[4]
Following blooming a round, tan to beige capsule forms as the fruit.[4] Each capsule will have a diameter of 4–8 millimeters.[3] Inside there are multiple small round seeds, 0.8–2 millimters in size with either a smooth surface or covered with small rounded protuberances (granular).[5]
Taxonomy[edit]
The species was given its first scientific description in 1890 by Edward Lee Greene with its present binomial name of Sisyrinchium demissum.[2] It was described using specimens that Greene collected near Flagstaff, Arizona.[9] It is classified in the iris family, Iridaceae, in the blue-eyed grasses genus, Sisyrinchium.[2]
Names[edit]
The species name, demissum, means humble.[5] In English the species is known by the common name "stiff blue-eyed grass".[8] As with many other species in its genus it is also simply called "blue-eyed grass".[6]
Range and habitat[edit]
Sisyrinchium demissum is found in the desert southwest of the United states and in northern Mexico. In the United states it is most common in four states, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah. But it is also found in Colorado and a small area of the farthst west of Texas in the Trans-Pecos region. Most of the observations in Colorado are in the southern part of the state, but it has also been observed in Weld County in the Pawnee National Grassland.[10][11] In Mexico it is reported from the states of Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Sonora.[12]
Its habitat is in moist areas of the deserts and in higher elevation forest openings. They are found near both seasonal and permanently flowing streams, moist meadows, ciénegas, near springs, and forest seeps.[4][7] The elevation range for the species is from 500–2900 meters.[4][13]
Cultivation[edit]
Stiff blue-eyed grass is grown in native plant gardens, particularly in places that are moist such as near downspouts. Gardeners will grow it from seed to divide the clumps to propagate plants. They are winter hardy in USDA zones 3–8.[8] The seeds exhibit a large degree of germination inhibition. In a study only 15% of the seeds sprouted after four weeks at 21 °C (70 °F). In contrast, 57% sprouted in the second week when planted at the same temperature with light after first being held at 4.5 °C (40 °F) for three months before planting. No seeds sprouted when planted in dark conditions.[14]
References[edit]
- ^ NatureServe (2024). "Sisyrinchium demissum". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "Sisyrinchium demissum Greene". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Heil, Kenneth D.; O’Kane, Jr., Steve L.; Reeves, Linda Mary; Clifford, Arnold (2013). Flora of the Four Corners Region : Vascular Plants of the San Juan River Drainage, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. St. Louis, Missouri: Missouri Botanical Garden. pp. 602–603. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Cholewa, Anita F.; Henderson, Douglass M. (5 November 2020). "Sisyrinchium demissum - FNA". Flora of North America. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ a b c Cholewa, Anita F.; Henderson, Douglass M. (1994). "Iridaceae Iris Family: Part One Sisyrinchium L." Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science. 27 (2): 215–218. ISSN 0193-8509. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ a b Epple, Anne Orth (1995). A Field Guide to the Plants of Arizona. Helena, Montana: Falcon Publishing. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-56044-314-8. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "Species Detail Forb -- Sisyrinchium demissum". Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants. Yavapai County Cooperative Extension. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ a b c Busco, Janice; Morin, Nancy R. (2010). Native Plants for High-elevation Western Gardens. Golden, Colorado: Fulcrum. pp. 298–299. ISBN 978-1-55591-740-1. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ Greene, Edward Lee (1887). "New or Noteworthy Species. VII". Pittonia. II (10): 69–70. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ Sisyrinchium demissum, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Profile, 18 April 2024
- ^ Kilburn, Paul (1993). "Field Trip Report". Aquilegia. 17 (3). Fort Collins, Colorado: Colorado Native Plant Society: 12. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ Hassler, Michael (17 April 2024). "Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora. Version 19.2". World Plants. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ Stromberg, J. C.; Makings, E.; Brown, D. E.; Wolkis, D. (2020). "Conservation of the Cienega Endemic, Eryngium Sparganophyllum Hemsl. (apiaceae)". The Southwestern Naturalist. 65 (2): 177. ISSN 0038-4909. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ Love, Stephen L; Akins, Candace J (2020). "Sixth summary of the native seed germination studies of Norman C Deno: species with names beginning with letters R through Z". Native Plants Journal. 21 (2): 152, 165. doi:10.3368/npj.21.2.150.