The plant can be identified by the single inflorescence at the end of each stem, the two, and the only two, bracts subtending the inflorescence, and it's winged aerial stems.
Another species, S. albidum, is similar but has typically two inflorescences at the end of each stem. The flowers of this species can be white or blue but are typically white.
Sisyrinchium atlanticum is somewhat similar to the more common Sisyrinchium angustifolium, but can be distinguished by the following characters: S. atlanticum - stems and leaves glaucous, stems slender and narrowly winged, peduncles slender; S. angustifolium - stems and leaves green, stems and peduncles broadly winged.
The numerous, narrow, light-green leaves of this perennial form dense, tufted clumps which steadily grow with new foliage during the season. The flattened, leaf-like flowering stems may be up to 18 in. long and bear light-blue, star-shaped flowers a few inches above the leaves. Height is 1-1 1/2 ft. Several delicate, blue or deep blue-violet flowers with yellow centers in 2 broad bracts top a flat stem, generally only 1 flower at a time in bloom; stems taller than the clusters of narrow, sword-shaped leaves near base.
« Return to the thread "Sisyrinchium"
« Return to Plant ID forum
« Return to the Garden.org homepage
