Sisyrinchium longipes
Timberland blue-eyed-grass
Family: Iridaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Sisyrinchium longipes (Timberland blue-eyed-grass) is a native California herb in the Iridaceae family, recognized by yellow flowers and geographic restriction provide distinction.
Timberland blue-eyed-grass is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in the San Bernardino Mountains in wet to moist meadows and streambanks at elevations of 700 to 1,060 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces yellow to orange flowers with dark brown veins, nestled within translucent bracts with distinctive rounded or sometimes dissected teeth. Growing with slender stems up to 45 centimeters tall that dry to an olive-green color and are 0.6 to 2.3 millimeters wide, it lacks leaf-bearing nodes. Its delicate form features narrow, grass-like foliage typical of blue-eyed-grass species. The compact inflorescence creates an intricate, subtle display characteristic of this alpine meadow dweller.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; yellow flowers and geographic restriction provide distinction
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet to moist meadows, streambanks, similar places
Elevation: 700-1060 m
Outside California: Arizona, New Mexico
Bloom period
Sisyrinchium longipes blooms May-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
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 longipes native to California?
Yes. Sisyrinchium longipes is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sisyrinchium longipes bloom?
Sisyrinchium longipes blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Sisyrinchium longipes belong to?
Sisyrinchium longipes is in the Iridaceae family, genus Sisyrinchium.
Is Sisyrinchium longipes rare or endangered?
Sisyrinchium longipes carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S1.
What habitat does Sisyrinchium longipes grow in?
Sisyrinchium longipes grows in Wet to moist meadows, streambanks, similar places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Sisyrinchium sp.
- Sisyrinchium bellum — Western blue-eyed-grass
- Sisyrinchium californicum — Golden-eyed-grass
- Sisyrinchium elmeri — Elmer's blue-eyed-grass
- Sisyrinchium funereum — Death valley blue-eyed-grass
- Sisyrinchium halophilum — Nevada blue-eyed-grass
- Sparaxis grandiflora — Butter cup
- Sparaxis sp. — Sparaxis
- Sparaxis tricolor — Harlequin flower
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.