Sisyrinchium "blue"
Tufted grass-like perennial. Stems simple or branched, compressed, narrowly winged, c. 1 mm diam., cauline leaf at each node. Leaves linear, ensiform, basal 2-3 mm wide, cauline narrower. Flowers ± 1 cm long, to 1.5 cm diam., in clusters of 1-3 within ± equal spathe-valves, blue internally with yellow band and throat, externally with dark indistinct purple stripes above, pubescent below. Capsule c. 3 × 3 mm, glabrous, red-brown. Seeds ± 1 mm long, black, ± 3-angled.
N. Auckland - Auckland City, near Lake Waikare, Matamata, Katikati; Mt Egmont; Wellington - Manawatu, Wairarapa, Hutt Valley. S. Nelson - near Westport; Westland - Hokitika; Canterbury - near Christchurch; Southland - Greenhills.
First record: Kirk 1870: 143, as "S. anceps L."
First collection: Tauranga Bay, (near Westport), roadside, H. H. Allan, 9.3.1941 (CHR 48534).
FL. 11-12.
Also treated in N.Z. as S. anceps auct. non Cav. and S. angustifolium auct. non Miller. Buchanan' s record (T.N.Z.I. 9, 1877, 524) of "S. bermudiana Linn. (Blue-eyed Grass)" for Kawau Id probably referred to this plant but no specimens have been found.
Recognised by the small tufted habit and small violet-blue flowers, this annual, apparently restricted in distribution, occurs on both wet and dry soils, in low density short grassland, in scrub, and waste places. It is so insignificant that it possibly may be more widespread but has been overlooked.
