Douglas' olsynium facts for kids
Olsynium douglasii is a beautiful flowering plant often called the Douglas' grasswidow or satin flower. It belongs to the iris family. This plant is special because it's the only one of its kind (genus Olsynium) found in North America. You can find it growing naturally in the western parts of North America. This includes areas from southern British Columbia down to northern California, and as far east as northwest Utah.
Quick facts for kids Douglas' olsynium |
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| Olsynium douglasii var. douglasii in Anacortes Community Forest Lands | |
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Olsynium
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| Species: |
douglasii
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Contents
About the Grass-Widow Plant
The Douglas' grasswidow is known by many fun names. Some people call it Douglas' olsynium, blue-eyed grass, or purple-eyed-grass. Its scientific name, Olsynium douglasii, helps scientists around the world know exactly which plant they are talking about.
What Does It Look Like?
This plant is a herbaceous perennial. This means it has soft stems (not woody like a tree) and comes back to grow again every year. It grows from a bulb, which is like a small underground storage unit for the plant.
- Size: The plant usually grows to be about 10 to 40 centimeters (4 to 16 inches) tall.
- Leaves: Its leaves are long and thin, like blades of grass. They can be 10 to 30 centimeters (4 to 12 inches) long and about 1.5 to 3 millimeters wide.
- Flowers: The flowers are shaped like bells or stars. They are about 15 to 25 millimeters long. Each flower has six purple tepals. Tepals are like petals and sepals combined, forming the colorful parts of the flower.
Different Types of Douglas' Grasswidow
Even though it's one species, there are two main types, or varieties, of Olsynium douglasii:
- Olsynium douglasii var. douglasii: This type is found along the coast of western North America. Its flower parts (called filaments) have a narrow base.
- Olsynium douglasii var. inflatum: This type grows more inland in western North America. Its flower filaments have a base that looks a bit puffy or "inflated."
Special Recognition
The Olsynium douglasii plant is so beautiful and easy to grow that it has won an award! It received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. This award means it's a great plant for gardeners to grow because it's reliable and looks good.
