Elmer's blue-eyed grass facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elmer's blue-eyed grass
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Iridaceae
Genus:	Sisyrinchium
Species:	S. elmeri
Binomial name
Sisyrinchium elmeri Greene
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Synonyms
Hydastylus elmeri (Greene) E.P.Bicknell Hydastylus rivularis E.P.Bicknell

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Sisyrinchium elmeri is a pretty flowering plant. It belongs to the Iridaceae family, which includes irises. People often call it Elmer's blue-eyed grass. This plant is special because it only grows in California. You can find it in many mountain areas there. These include the Klamath Mountains, the Sierra Nevada, and the San Bernardino Mountains. It loves wet places like meadows and bogs.

What is Elmer's Blue-Eyed Grass Like?

This plant is a type of perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It also grows from a special underground stem called a rhizome. This helps it spread and form clumps. Its thin stems can grow about 20 to 30 centimeters tall. That's like the length of a standard ruler!

Appearance of the Plant

Elmer's blue-eyed grass is usually a medium green color. It does not feel waxy. When the plant dries out, it turns a dark green or brownish color. But it never turns black. Its leaves are flat and narrow. They look a lot like grass blades.

The Flowers and Fruit

The flowers of Sisyrinchium elmeri are quite small. Each flower has six parts called tepals. These are like petals and sepals combined. Each tepal is about one centimeter long. The flowers are bright yellow or yellow-orange. They have cool dark brown lines, like tiny veins. After the flower blooms, it forms a dark brown fruit. This fruit is a small capsule.