White Blue-Eyed Grass, Blue-Eyed Grass

Sisyrinchium albidum

sis-ee-RINK-ee-um  AL-bi-dum

Synonyms of Sisyrinchium albidum (6) (Updated on 5-27-25 from Plants of the World Online): Sisyrinchium asheianum E.P.Bicknell (1899), Sisyrinchium bermudiana var. albidum (Raf.) A.Gray (1867), Sisyrinchium floridanum Raf. (1840), Sisyrinchium hastile E.P.Bicknell (1899), Sisyrinchium niveum Raf. (1840), Sisyrinchium scabrellum E.P.Bicknell (1899)

Sisyrinchium albidum Raf. Is the accepted scientific name for this species. It was named and described as such by Constantine Rafinesque in Atlantic Journal, and Friend of Knowledge in 1832.

The genus, Sisyrinchium L., was named as such by Carl von Linneaus in second volume of the first edition of Species Plantarum in 1753.

As of 5-27-25 when this page was added, Plants of the World Online lists 212 species in the Sisyrinchium genus. It is a member of the plant family Iridaceae with 69 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.

The above distribution map for Sisyrinchium albidum is from the USDA Plants Database. Areas in green are where the species is naive. The map on Plants of the World Online is similar. Most maps are similar but not perfect. They give a pretty good idea of where species are found.

The map on iNaturalist shows where members have made observations. Anyone can join and it is a great website to confirm and share your observations. The maps on iNaturalist are continually updated as members post new observations. I post all my observations on iNaturalist.

THERE ARE SEVERAL LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING AND TO HELP WITH A POSITIVE ID.

I was invited to visit a private well-maintained native prairie not far from home on 5-5-25. It was quite amazing! I ran across 11 species I hadn’t seen before including Sisyrinchium albidum.

I will come back later and write descriptions, but here is a little information to hold you over…

The links at the bottom of the page provide a wealth of information written by people more knowledgeable than me.

I’m not 100% sure this species is Sisyrinchium albidum, commonly referred to as White Blue-Eyed Grass, Blue-Eyed Grass, and possibly others. I have Sisyrinchium angustifolium (Narrow-Leaved Blue-Eyed Grass) and Sisyrinchium campestre (Prairie Blue-Eyed Grass) here on the farm and they are both similar.

There were several large colonies of this species on the prairie. Unfortunately, none of the flowers were open.

Their leaves are grass-like.

The Blue-Eyed Grass on the farm typically have blue flowers but can be white. S. albidum typically has white flowers but can also be blue… Other features that could distinguish this species from others are not readily noticeable unless you take a closer look. Supposedly, S. albidum has an extra leaflike bract that encloses one or two inflorescences… Something you may not always remember to check… If you look at the first photo, you can see two leaf-like bracts. Is that the tell-tale sign? Hmmm..

I hope I can get back to the prairie soon and take more photos of this species and many more.

If you would like to read the post about the visit to the prairie on 5-5-25, click HERE.

I live on the family farm in Windsor, Missouri in Pettis County (Henry County is across the street, and Benton and Johnson aren’t far away). I have grown over 500 different plants and identified over 250 species of wildflowers (most have pages listed on the right side of the page). I am not an expert, botanist, or horticulturalist. I just like growing, photographing, and writing about my experience. I rely on several websites for ID and a few horticulturalists I contact if I cannot figure them out. Wildflowers can be variable from location to location, so that can be a bit confusing. If you see I have made an error, please let me know so I can correct what I have written.

I hope you found this page useful and be sure to check the links below for more information. They were written by experts and they have provided much more information. Some sites may not be up-to-date but they are always a work in progress. If you can, I would appreciate it if you would click on the “Like” below and leave a comment. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. You can also send an email to me at thebelmontrooster@yahoo.com. I would enjoy hearing from you especially if you notice something is a bit whacky.

FOR FURTHER READING:
PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
INTERNATIONAL PLANT NAMES INDEX (GENUS/SPECIES)
TROPICOS (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF MISSOURI (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF NORTH AMERICA (GENUS/SPECIES)
WORLD FLORA ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
WIKIPEDIA (GENUS/SPECIES)
USDA PLANTS DATABASE
iNATURALIST
U.S. FOREST SERVICE
MISSOURI PLANTS
WILDFLOWER SEARCH
DAVE’S GARDEN
GO BOTANY
ILLINOIS WILDFLOWERS
LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER
SEINet

NOTE: The data (figures, maps, accepted names, etc.) may not match on these websites. It depends on when and how they make updates and when their sources make updates. Some websites have hundreds and even many thousands of species to keep up with. Accepted scientific names change periodically and it can be hard to keep with as well. Some of the links may use a name that is a synonym on other sites. In my opinion, Plants of the World Online by Kew is one of the most reliable and up-to-date plant databases and they make updates regularly. I make updates “at least” once a year and when I write new pages or add new photos but I do get behind. We are all a work in progress. 🙂