Sisyrinchium angustifolium
Bermuda Blue-Eyed Grass
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Iridaceae
- Genus
- Sisyrinchium
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.4 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Edible uses
Leaves - cooked[3]. They are mixed with other greens[3].
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
The root is astringent[3]. An infusion is used to treat diarrhoea in adults and children[3]. The leaves are eaten as a cooked green to regulate the bowels[3]. An infusion of the plant has been used to treat stomach complaints and stomach worms[3].
Environment
- Range
- Western Ireland. South-eastern N. America. Naturalized in Britain.
- Habitat
- Sandy woods in Texas[4]. Naturalised in Britain where it grows in marshy meadows and on lake shores[1].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 3+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse in the autumn, though it can also be sown in the spring. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in late spring, after the last expected frosts. Division in early spring.
Cultivation
Prefers a moist but well-drained humus-rich loamy soil and a position in full sun, though it will tolerate part-day shade[2]. [2] gives a hardiness rating of zone 3 to this plant (tolerating winter temperatures down to about -40°c) but then says that the plant will need the protection of a cold greenhouse in areas where the temperature falls much below freezing[2]. Plants will often self-sow when growing in a suitable position[2].
References
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm