SISYRINCHIUM. The Americas. Perennials of the iris alliance, producing compact clumps of grass or iris-like leaves and displaying small 6-parted flowers in branched clusters or spikes, mostly in spring and early summer. Some of them self-seed rather freely, but the seedlings are easily rogued out. Sun, reasonably well drained soil, regular to little or no watering, depending on species. The following are hardy to 10^oF. or below, except as noted.

bellum, Blue-eyed grass, is a common but beautiful wildflower, sprinkled over grassy slopes in much of California. Typically it forms clumps of grassy, 6-12", bluish green leaves. Taller, branched stems appear in spring with 1/2" to 1" purple blossoms, their centers marked by golden stamens. One of our own selections, 'Figueroa', is a 10-12" plant with cream-margined leaves and stems and typical purple blossoms. 'Merk's White' has typical foliage and large, pure white flowers. 'H Bar H White' is similar but slightly more floriferous. 'Occidental' is a 1' plant, very profuse in growth and bloom and similarly large flowered. 'Rocky Point' is a more recent selection, of dwarf habit, with broader leaves and violet blossoms. 'Ft. Bragg' is similar in habit but the flowers are soft lavender in color, with violet centers. 'Arroyo de la Cruz' has the largest and darkest flowers of all. Unwatered plants may shrivel in late summer but are quickly renewed by fall rains.

californicum. Yellow-eyed grass. This is a plant of moist places, often colonizing roadside ditches. It forms compact clumps with leaves similar to those of S. bellum-though distinctly greener. The flowers, which are a little less freely produced, are of similar size but colored bright yellow throughout. It should be kept moist in the garden.

'E. K. Balls' ('Balls' Mauve'). An outstanding selection, sometimes listed under S. bellum; however, I suspect that its background includes the northwestern S. macounii. It makes dense colonies of shoots, growing only about 6" high. The leaves are relatively broader than those of most forms of S. bellum and dark green in color. It flowers profusely in spring and early summer, carrying clusters of bright purple flowers at every shoot tip. Probably hardy to around 0^oF.

'Wayne's Dwarf'. This is considered a probable hybrid between S. bellum and S. macounii. It grows only about 6" tall, is a little broader leaved than our bellum selections and has deep purple blossoms. Culture as for S. bellum. Received from Wayne Roderick.