Sisyrinchium montanum [Strict Blue-eyed Grass]

[Andrea B.]

Blum, A.G. (2017) Sisyrinchium montanum Greene (Iridiceae) Strict Blue-eyed Grass. Flowers photographed in ultraviolet, visible, infrared and UV+B+G light. http://www.ultraviol...lue-eyed-grass/

 

Shore Cottage, Southwest Harbor, Maine, USA

06 July 2016

Wildflower

 

Synonyms:

• Sisyrinchium alpestre E. P. Bicknell
  
• Sisyrinchium bermudianum L. var. (Fern.) Boivin
  
• Sisyrinchium montanum Greene ssp. crebrum (Fern.) Böcher
  
• Sisyrinchium heterocarpum E. P. Bicknell
  

Comment:

This small monocot, a member of the Iris family, is native to North America. S. montanum is very much like S. angustifolium or S. mucronatum. In this case, the sessile, unbranched inflorescences and the stems' wide wing margins are factors for fairly identifying this specimen as S. montanum.

 

In Ultraviolet light, the yellow-green throat star becomes UV-dark except for a bright ring in the base. The tepals are moderately UV-reflective but show some darker veining which is also seen in Visible light. There is a lot of iridescence on the tepals which gives a reflective sheen in both UV and Visible light.

 

Reference:

1. New England Wild Flower Society (2017) Sisyrinchium montanum. Strict Blue-eyed Grass. https://gobotany.new...chium/montanum/

 

 

Visible Light [f/11 for 1/200" @ ISO-100 with Onboard Flash and Baader UVIR-Block Filter]

 

Ultraviolet Light [f/11 for 1/1.6" @ ISO-400 with SB-14 UV-modified Flash and BaaderU UV-Pass Filter]

 

Ultraviolet Light [f/11 for 1/4" @ ISO-400 with SB-14 UV-modified Flash and AndreaU UV-Pass Filter]

 

UV+Blue+Green [f/8 for 1/1.3" @ ISO-200 in Sunlight with UG5(1.5mm) + S8612(1.75mm)]

 

Visible Light [f/8 for 1/250" @ ISO-180 with Nikon D810 + 60mm f/2.8G Micro-Nikkor in Sunlight]

Violet-blue with yellow throat.

 

Visible Light [f/8 for 1/250" @ ISO-180 with Nikon D810 + 60mm f/2.8G Micro-Nikkor in Sunlight]

Wide wing margins on stem.

 

Visible Light [f/8 for 1/400" @ ISO-220 with Nikon D810 + 60mm f/2.8G Micro-Nikkor in Sunlight]

Seed capsules.