PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status

White Blue-eyed-grass (Sisyrinchium albidum)

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Photo by Kenneth J. Sytsma

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

White Blue-eyed-grass (Sisyrinchium albidum), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in prairies and open woods; dry to mesic environments. Blooming occurs from late-April to late-May, fruiting in May and June. The optimal identification period for this species is May through July.

Sisyrinchium asheianum, Sisyrinchium bermudianum var. albidum, Sisyrinchium floridanum, Sisyrinchium hastile, Sisyrinchium niveum, Sisyrinchium scabrellum

 
 
 

White blue-eyed-grass is a forb/herb, 10-40cm tall, with flowers grouped in an umbel of up to six, but only a couple will flower at a time. Flowers are 6-merous, white to pale-blue with a yellow staminal column, up to 13cm wide, and on a pedicel of ~13cm. Flowering stalks end in a pair of spathes, often purplish, which are sessile and made up of two claw-like bracts up to 25 mm long. Fruits are ridged capsules 2-4mm long. Leaves are basal and narrow, almost as wide as, but shorter than, the flowering stems.

It is most likely to be confused with Sisyrinchium campestre, which has a solitary spathe instead of the usual 2 found in white blue-eyed grass.

Blooming occurs from late-spring to early-summer.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is May through July.

Its flowers are often open on sunny days between late morning and mid-afternoon.

White blue-eyed-grass prefers snady or loamy soil and is found in prairies and open woods, dry to mesic environments.

Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Avoid locating landings, staging areas, or access routes on or near known populations.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Avoid site preparation that heavily disturbs herbaceous ground layer and soil, including bulldozing and furrowing, as well as grubbing and stump removal.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.