Dotted blue-eyed grass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dotted blue-eyed grass |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sisyrinchium
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| Species: |
pruinosum
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The Sisyrinchium pruinosum, also known as the dotted blue-eyed grass, is a beautiful perennial plant. This means it grows back every year. It belongs to the Iridaceae family, which also includes irises. You can find this plant growing naturally in the south-central United States. It has also been seen in California, but it might have spread there from other places. Some scientists think it might be the same plant as Sisyrinchium langloisii.
What Does It Look Like?
The dotted blue-eyed grass is a delicate plant that grows in clumps. It can be upright or spread out. It usually reaches about 9 to 30 centimeters (3.5 to 12 inches) tall. Its stems are thin and flat, and they don't have branches.
Flowers
The flowers are very pretty and can be up to 3 centimeters (1.125 inches) wide. They are usually violet-purple or purple-blue, but sometimes they can be white. Each flower has six parts that look like petals and spread out wide. You'll usually see one or a few flowers grouped together at the top of a stem. These flowers tend to close up when the weather is cloudy.
Leaves
The leaves of the dotted blue-eyed grass grow from the base of the plant. They are long and thin, like blades of grass, and can be up to 22.5 centimeters (9 inches) long. They are also flat, just like the flower stems.
Where It Grows
This plant likes to grow in open areas. You can often find it in prairies, pastures, and meadows. It also grows in open woodlands and areas with oak trees. It prefers soil that is made of clay or sandy clay.
On warm, sunny days, these plants can look amazing. They often grow in large numbers, covering entire fields with a solid sheet of blue flowers. They are also a great choice for planting along the edges of a wildflower garden. It's sometimes hard to tell different types of Sisyrinchium plants apart because they can easily mix their genes.
