Sisyrinchium fuscatum

Sisyrinchium fuscatum E. P. Bicknell

Synonym: Sisyrinchium arenicola

Common Names: Blue Eyed Grass

Family: Iridaceae

Habit: Sisyrinchium fuscatum grows as a perennial herb from with a basal rosette of leaves with a central flowering stem to 50 cm in height.  The leaves are linear, parallel veined to 25 cm long and 0.5 cm wide with an acute leaf apex a serrate margin.

The complete, perfect, flower is solitary and surrounded by a spathe.  The pedicel is pubescent. The calyx has 3 unfused blue purple sepals. The corolla has 3 unfused blue purple petals. The sepals and petals each have a yellow base, an aristate apex, and their outer bases are pubescent.  There are 3 stamens partially fused into a pubescent tube.  The ovary is inferior and has 3 locules containing numerous ovules.  The fruit is 3 parted capsule that is black at maturity.

Habitat: Sisyrinchium fuscatum grows in Pine Woodlands/Grasslands and grassy areas such as roadsides.

Distribution: Sisyrinchium fuscatum occurs on Abaco and Grand Bahama as well as the eastern United States and Canada.

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Sisyrinchium fuscatum is not known to be used medicinally in the Lucayan Archipelago.