Narrow-leaved Blue-eyed

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Narrow-leaved blue-eyed (Latin Sisyrinchium angustifolium) - the most widespread species of the genus Blue-eyed (lat. Sisyrinchium) from the Iris family (lat. Iridaceae) in floriculture. A perennial plant with blue-blue flowers, making up for the lack of compact bushes with its beauty, strength and perseverance. Spring bloom looks like a heavenly spray, scattered in blue drops over undersized bushes with narrow green leaves, forming dense basal rosettes..

What's in your name

One of the versions of the origin of the Latin name of the genus "Sisyrinchium" is in no way connected with the blue flowers of plants, and therefore the Russian name of the genus "Blue-eyed" is not at all consonant with the Latin name assigned to the plant by Karl Linnaeus.

The Latin name is based on the word "sisyra", which was used to refer to an ancient type of clothing - a raincoat woven from goat hair. Such a cloak served at least two functions: during the day it was a warm outer garment, and at night it became a bedding, being both a bedding and a blanket for many people whose lives were associated with frequent movements.

The specific epithet “angustifolium” (“narrow-leaved”) speaks for itself. The narrow, pointed-nosed leaves of plants, similar to the leaves of plants of the Cereals family, gave rise to such a name. There is even a synonym for the official Latin name of the plant - "Blue-eyed cereal".

Description

A perennial plant willingly and easily expands its possessions at the expense of the underground rhizome. Small shrubs from 15 to 50 centimeters in height form wide, spectacular clumps, which are gladly visited by hardworking bees collecting pollen and nectar from flowers during the period of the year when most flowering plants are just getting ready to open their hospitable flower buds. In gratitude for the treat received, insects pollinate the female flowers.

Basal rosette consists of narrow, pointed-nosed leaves, the width of which varies from 2 to 6 millimeters. A thin stem branches out in the upper part and bears two short, narrow leaves at its tops.

From the apical leaves, small, unpretentious flowers on thin peduncles appear in the world. The flower is composed of six blue-blue petals. On the surface of the petals, veins of a darker blue color are clearly distinguished. The central vein ends each petal with a pointed nose. Closer to the center, the color of the petals becomes denser, shading the whiteness or yellowness of the stamens and contrasting with the yellow spot in the center of the flower.

Seeds of Blue-eyed narrow-leaved are small, black.

A perennial herb can be found in wet meadows, open areas of the forest (ravines, glades, along the banks of water bodies) in the United States of America. It is the most common species of the Blue Eyed Grass genus. Cultivated varieties of Blue-eyed narrow-leaved regulars of gardens and flower beds.

Growing conditions

Blue-eyed narrow-leaved grows well both in the open sun and in partial shade or full shade.

The soil is preferably fertile, containing leafy humus, moist, but without stagnant water. The plant should be watered as needed, because flowering occurs in May and June, when the soil is still full of spring moisture, if the planting site is chosen correctly.

The plant can be propagated by sowing winter-hardy seeds, or by dividing clumps or viable rhizomes.

Dense clumps of root rosettes of leaves reliably protect the soil from excessive drying out, and a scattering of blue-blue flowers pleases the human eye and attracts grateful pollinators in the face of hardworking bees.