Sisyrinchium funereum
Death valley blue-eyed-grass, Death Valley Blue-Eyed-Grass
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Iridaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Sisyrinchium funereum (Death valley blue-eyed-grass) is a native California herb in the Iridaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Death valley blue-eyed-grass is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in the northeastern Death Valley region in strongly alkaline margins of wet areas at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces pale blue flowers with yellow bases, approximately 10 to 15 millimeters long with truncate or notched tips. Growing with tufted pale green stems less than 70 centimeters tall, the plant has distinctive leaf-bearing nodes typically occurring once along the stem. Its leaves are pale green and glaucous, emerging from the tufted base in a compact arrangement. The delicate inflorescence features translucent bracts with inner margins widest at the tip and extended above as two rounded teeth.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally strongly alkaline margins of wet areas
Elevation: < 800 m
California counties: Inyo
Outside California: adjacent Nevada
Bloom period
Sisyrinchium funereum blooms Feb-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Erodium: Sisyrinchium has iris-like flowers with 6 equal petals; Erodium has 5-petaled geranium flowers.; vs Dipterostemon: Sisyrinchium has flattened winged stems; Dipterostemon has round stems and lily-like flowers.; vs Solanum: Sisyrinchium has 6 petals and grass-like leaves; Solanum has 5 petals and broad leaves.; vs Iris: Sisyrinchium has tiny flowers (<18mm) in clusters; Iris has large showy flowers with distinctive falls.; vs Romulea: Sisyrinchium has flattened winged stems; Romulea has round or 4-angled grooved stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sisyrinchium funereum native to California?
Yes. Sisyrinchium funereum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sisyrinchium funereum bloom?
Sisyrinchium funereum blooms Feb-Apr.
Where in California does Sisyrinchium funereum grow?
Sisyrinchium funereum occurs in Inyo, at elevations of < 800 m.
What plant family does Sisyrinchium funereum belong to?
Sisyrinchium funereum is in the Iridaceae family, genus Sisyrinchium.
Is Sisyrinchium funereum rare or endangered?
Sisyrinchium funereum carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Sisyrinchium halophilum — Nevada blue-eyed-grass
- Sisyrinchium hitchcockii — Hitchcock's blue-eyed-grass
- Sisyrinchium idahoense — Idaho blue-eyed-grass
- Sisyrinchium idahoense var. idahoense — Idaho blue eyed grass
- Sisyrinchium idahoense var. occidentale — Idaho blue eyed grass
- Sisyrinchium longipes — Timberland blue-eyed-grass
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.