Herbs, perennial, strongly cespitose, rootstock indistinct. Stems simple, terete. Leaves 2–4, cauline, alternate, reduced basally; blade basally clasping or terete. Inflorescences rhipidiate, 1–5-flowered; spathes 2, green, leaflike, unequal, apex acute or, rarely, obtuse. Flowers not fragrant, actinomorphic; tepals distinct, reddish purple to magenta, occasionally pink or white, not clawed, ± equal; stamens symmetrically arranged; filaments connate to 1/2 their length; anthers parallel, not appressed to style branches; style branches 3, filiform, short, extending between anthers. Capsules globose to obovoid or broadly turbinate, ± smooth to distended around seeds, apex broadly rounded, basal 0.2 mm of styles sometimes persistent. Seeds many, obconic, angular; seed coat brown, coarsely rugulose. x = 32.

Distribution

North America, South America.

Discussion

Species 12 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

Goldblatt, P., P. J. Rudall, and J. E. Henrich. 1990. The genera of the Sisyrinchium alliance (Iridaceae: Iridoideae): Phylogeny and relationships. Syst. Bot. 15: 497–510.

Henderson, D. M. 1972. A Biosystematic Study of the Genus Sisyrinchium (Iridaceae) in the Pacific Northwest. Ph.D. dissertation. University of Washington.

Lower Taxa

Olsynium douglasii