Iris

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Prolific Flower Color Gallery

Iris

These photos may be of both species below

There are many Sisyrinchium species of plants in Texas. Thought most are blue, some have yellow or white flowers.

Iridaceae - Iris family

Bermuda Blue-eyed Grass (Narrow-leaf Blue-eyed Grass, Stout Blue-eyed Grass) Sisyrinchium angustifolium (S. bermudiana, S. graminoides)

Flower about 5/8" wide with a long, flat, winged stem; wings are wide. One to several flowers that close at night or in cloudy weather. Plant grows 8"-12" tall and has a "flat" appearance. Note: The name is misleading as it is not a grass nor does it have a blue eye.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2004 & April 2005

(Native of Texas)

Plant: 6"-12" tall, from a bulb, sandy soils, woods, low wet areas.

Bracts: A spathe (leaf-like structure where the flowers emerge) of two "leaves", the outer one longer than the inner one. A second set of leafy bracts where the flower stem meets the main stem.

Flower: Blue to blue-violet with a yellow eye. The "petals" are tepals. Flower stems longer than the spathe.

Stems: Broadly winged. Erect to slightly spreading.

Leaves: Basal. Long and narrow, erect, 1/4 to 3/4 as high as plant.

Fruit: Round capsule with 3 sections, 1/4" wide.

Bloom: March-May

Similar Species

Swordleaf Blue-eyed Grass Sisyrinchium chilense (S. ensigerum, S. scabrum)

Flower stem is short, winged stem. One to several flowers that close at night or in cloudy weather. Note: The name is misleading as it is not a grass nor does it have a blue eye.

(Native of Texas, Taylor and all around)

Plant: 6"-20" tall, from a bulb, sandy soils.

Bracts: A spathe (leaf-like structure where the flowers emerge). of two "leaves", both about the same length. A second set of leafy bracts where the flower stem meets the main stem.

Flower: Blue to blue-violet with a yellow eye. The "petals" are tepals; three are narrower than the others.

Stems: Winged but not broadly, solitary or a few, gray-green (with a white dusting).

Leaves: Basal. Long and narrow.

Fruit: Round capsule with 3 sections, 1/4" wide.

Bloom: April-May

Wild Iris (or Beardless Iris, Louisiana iris)

Iridaceae - Iris family

subgenus Limniris, section Limniris, subsection Apogon, series Hexagonae

Coming next spring

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, ?

(Native of Texas)

Bearded Iris