Shore blue-eyed grass, Alaska blue-eyed grass • Sisyrinchium littorale
{Sisyrinchium = a Greek name for iris chosen by the scholar Theophrastus, littorale = refers to the ocean shore habitat where the species is most commonly found}
Identification
Despite its name, this species is a wildflower not a grass. When shore blue-eyed grass is flowering (around June for the Central Coast region), it is easily identifiable by its vibrant blue to purple flowers with yellow centres. This grass grows 10-40 cm tall and has mostly basal leaves that reach 20 cm in length and over 2.5 mm in width.
Habitat & Range
Shore blue-eyed grass is also known as Alaska blue-eyed grass because its range is restricted to regions further north than others members of its genus. It ranges from southern Alaska to southern Washington, and grows in coastal dunes, moist to wet coastal meadows, marshes, and on cliff faces.
Similar Species
Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium idahoense) is very similar to shore blue-eyed grass. However, the range of blue-eyed grass is further south and thus the species would not be found on the Central Coast. Sisyrinchium littorale is shorter, with wider leaves and stems. See the E-Flora species pages, linked above and in References, for further information.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/169021-Sisyrinchium-littorale
Despite its name, this species is a wildflower not a grass. When shore blue-eyed grass is flowering (around June for the Central Coast region), it is easily identifiable by its vibrant blue to purple flowers with yellow centres. This grass grows 10-40 cm tall and has mostly basal leaves that reach 20 cm in length and over 2.5 mm in width.
Habitat & Range
Shore blue-eyed grass is also known as Alaska blue-eyed grass because its range is restricted to regions further north than others members of its genus. It ranges from southern Alaska to southern Washington, and grows in coastal dunes, moist to wet coastal meadows, marshes, and on cliff faces.
Similar Species
Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium idahoense) is very similar to shore blue-eyed grass. However, the range of blue-eyed grass is further south and thus the species would not be found on the Central Coast. Sisyrinchium littorale is shorter, with wider leaves and stems. See the E-Flora species pages, linked above and in References, for further information.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/169021-Sisyrinchium-littorale
References
Pojar, J. and MacKinnon, A. (2005). Plants of Coastal British Columbia, Revised. Vancouver, BC: Lone Pine Publishing. P. 114.
Sisyrinchium littorale Greene: Alaska blue-eyed grass; shore blue-eyed-grass. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia [eflora.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed 02/11/2013.
Authors and editors of page
Chanda Brietzke, Kelly Fretwell, and Brian Starzomski (2013).
Pojar, J. and MacKinnon, A. (2005). Plants of Coastal British Columbia, Revised. Vancouver, BC: Lone Pine Publishing. P. 114.
Sisyrinchium littorale Greene: Alaska blue-eyed grass; shore blue-eyed-grass. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia [eflora.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed 02/11/2013.
Authors and editors of page
Chanda Brietzke, Kelly Fretwell, and Brian Starzomski (2013).