Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium Read more about this collection »

LeavesBasal, linear, 10-30 cm long, 0.8-2 mm wide, margins entire, parallel venation FlowersInflorescence terminal with 2 to 5 flowers; flowers radially symmetric, nodding, subtended by 2 unequal bracts; tepals 6, distinct, 0.9-1.2 cm long, elliptic to inversely lance-shaped, apex rounded with awn, blue-violet to white with yellow base; stamens 3; filaments fused; pistils 1, ovary inferior Fruits and SeedsCapsules, beige to light brown, spherical, 3.5-5 mm, many-seeded; seeds black, angled, 0.5-1.2 mm

Scientific Name Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell Common Name northern blue-eyed grass. General Description Perennial herb; stems simple, flat, winged, 10-30 cm tall, green to pale olive when dry, growing in dense tufts Leaves Basal, linear, 10-30 cm long, 0.8-2 mm wide, margins entire, parallel venation Flowers

Inflorescence terminal with 2 to 5 flowers; flowers radially symmetric, nodding, subtended by 2 unequal bracts; tepals 6, distinct, 0.9-1.2 cm long, elliptic to inversely lance-shaped, apex rounded with awn,…

Fruits and Seeds Capsules, beige to light brown, spherical, 3.5-5 mm, many-seeded; seeds black, angled, 0.5-1.2 mm Phenology Flowering early to mid summer Notes

Similar species: S. sarmentosum What distinguishes these two species is the presence of rounded apices on the pale blue outer tepals of and the rarity of white flowers in S. sarmentosum (Flora of North America). Unique adaptations: S. septentrionale is pollinated by solitary bees from the family Megachilidae (Henderson, 1976). This is an example of co-evolution between these two organisms because certain adaptive advantages have kept the pollination of this species restricted to these particular bees. Since S. septentrionale is so similar in morphology and habitat to many other members of this genus, it was thought that any one of these species could interbreed successfully. Henderson conducted an experiment to determine whether S. septentrionale could successfully hybridize with most of these species and interestingly found that while the hybrids were technically genetically viable, they failed to germinate time and time again (Henderson, 1976). Since this time it is unknown why this phenomenon occurs, and the reproductive viability of S. septentrionale with other species remains a mystery.

Range/Distribution Alberta: Widespread, especially in the lower half of the province CAN (BC, MB, NT, SK); USA (ID, MT, WA)

Page Citation

"Species Details - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell, University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/1-5928/12-14273. Accessed 08 Nov. 2024.

12 results plotted on map in 9 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

100199 - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namenorthern blue-eyed grass. Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Ya Ha Tinda Ranch Date Collected1951-07-13

49251 - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namenorthern blue-eyed grass. Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Calgary Date Collected1955-06-16

72425 - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namenorthern blue-eyed grass. Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, RB Miller Biological Station Date Collected1966-07-07

28532 - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namenorthern blue-eyed grass. Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve, Siffleur Falls Date Collected1968-06-11

49249 - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namenorthern blue-eyed grass. Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Calgary Date Collected1954-07-10

49250 - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namenorthern blue-eyed grass. Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Calgary Date Collected1955-06-16

5214 - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namenorthern blue-eyed grass. Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Oyen Date Collected1953-08-17

36409 - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namenorthern blue-eyed grass. Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Fort Saskatchewan Date Collected1940-07-01

5215 - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namenorthern blue-eyed grass. Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Conrich Date Collected1953-07-17

118260 - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namenorthern blue-eyed grass. Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Thompson Creek Date Collected2007-06-20

118259 - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namenorthern blue-eyed grass. Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve Date Collected2007-06-21

124572 - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namenorthern blue-eyed grass. Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Fort Macleod Date Collected1967-06-15

124573 - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namenorthern blue-eyed grass. Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Fort Macleod Date Collected1967-06-15

124574 - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namenorthern blue-eyed grass. Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Fort Macleod Date Collected1967-06-15

5213 - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namenorthern blue-eyed grass. Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Calgary Date Collected1955-07-27

137179 - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namenorthern blue-eyed grass. Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Sommerfeldt Ranch Date Collected1996-06-01/1996-06-02

137702 - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namenorthern blue-eyed grass. Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Witt Property Date Collected2010-07-03

137703 - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namenorthern blue-eyed grass. Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Witt Property Date Collected2010-07-03

144396 - Sisyrinchium septentrionale E. P. Bicknell

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namenorthern blue-eyed grass. Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Fort Macleod Date Collected1967-06-15

Species Details