BLUE-EYED GRASSES
SWORD-LEAVED THUROW’S DWARF
Sword-Leaved Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium ensigerum) is one of many blue-eyed grasses in the state, most of which have purplish-blue flowers, 6-parted and about half an inch broad, marked at the base with yellow. The flower has 3 erect united stamens. The flowers hang on thread-like stalks from two boat-shaped leaves about an inch long. The stems are winged, sword-shaped or outcurved, and have very fine saw-toothed edges. South-central to Northwestern Texas in April and May. In East Texas the prairie blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium campestre) is common. It has pale blue flowers, and the outer floral leaf is prolonged to a slender point, being 1½-2 in. long.
Dwarf Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium minus) has small reddish-purple flowers and an oblong seed capsule. Coastal Plain, Louisiana to Texas. Spring.
Thurow’s Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium thurowi) is a very small plant with small yellow flowers found in the southeastern part of the state in damp places. Spring.
GIANT IRIS
Giant Blue-Flag or Iris (Iris giganticaerulea) is a tall iris found in swampy places in East Texas and Louisiana, blooming in late April and May. The color of this iris is quite variable, ranging from dark violet to lavender and white. The recurved spreading sepals are 3-4 inches long, and the petals are shorter and erect. The capsules are 3-4 in. long with 6 rounded ridges.
Narrow Blue-Flag (Iris virginica) has been confused with the Carolina iris, according to Dr. Small of the New York Botanical Garden, who has recently described many new irises from Louisiana. The narrow blue-flag is colored similarly to the giant iris, but has shorter 3-angled capsules, very narrow leaves, and zig-zag stems. It is abundant on the Coastal Plain in early spring.
Red-Brown Flag (Iris fulva) is also found in the swamps in East Texas.