Yellow-eyed-grasses

Small's Yellow-eyed-grass Richard's Yellow-eyed-grass Small's Yellow-eyed-grass Bog Yellow-eyed-grass

What are they?

Yellow-eyed-grasses are attractive plants of wetland areas where they can be very showy when growing in large numbers. The three-petalled flowers open one at a time from a tight, oval-shaped head, carried at the top of a narrow stem.

Identification

The yellow-eyed-grasses are in a family all of their own, the Xyridaceae. They can be easily told from similar-looking plants in other families by the bulbous head which produces a series of flowers, usually one at a time. This is a tricky group to identify to species; critical for identification are the two, narrow, papery, outer sepals which sit hidden behind the broad, rounded bracts, one either side of each flower. They can easily be located by simply pulling back the outer bract next to a flower. The sepals may or may not protrude beyond the edge of the bract and may or may not have a bristly tip or jagged keel. The color of the leaves at the base and the timing of flower opening (morning or afternoon) can also be important.



Bog Yellow-eyed-grass      Xyris difformis

Widespread and common in wet areas and a variety of boggy and swampy locations. Flowers June to September. A variable but often relatively large species that can form quite large colonies. Base of plant distinctly reddish in color; flower spikes 0.5-1.5cm long, flowers typically opening in the morning.
Bog Yellow-eyed-grass Bog Yellow-eyed-grass Bog Yellow-eyed-grass Bog Yellow-eyed-grass
Flower head
Flower
Outer sepal with
jagged keel (top left)
Leaves usually not twisted

Slender Yellow-eyed-grass      Xyris torta

Many kinds of wet soils in marshes, swamps and boggy hollows. Flowers July to August. A variable but often relatively large species that can form quite large colonies. Base of plant often brownish-red in color; flower spikes 1-2.5cm long, flowers typically opening in the morning.
Slender Yellow-eyed-grass Slender Yellow-eyed-grass Slender Yellow-eyed-grass Slender Yellow-eyed-grass
Habit
Flower
Outer sepal with
jagged keel (top left)
Leaves usually twisted

Small's Yellow-eyed-grass      Xyris smalliana

Wet soils in marshes, swamps and boggy hollows, sometimes even growing in shallow water. Flowers July to September. Despite the name (it is named after a botanist called Small), this is typically the largest of our yellow-eyed-grasses. Base of plant strongly and obviously red in color; flower spikes 1-2.5cm long, flowers typically opening in the afternoon. The outer sepals are elongated at the tip and can be seen protruding from behind the flower bracts on flowering spikes.
Small's Yellow-eyed-grass Small's Yellow-eyed-grass Small's Yellow-eyed-grass Small's Yellow-eyed-grass
Flower
Flower spike
Long outer sepal with
jagged keel
Leaves red at base

Richard's Yellow-eyed-grass      Xyris jupicai

Wet soils in marshes, swamps and boggy hollows. Flowers July to September. A small and perhaps easily-overlooked species, plants are typically annual or short-lived perennials. Base of plant pale brown in color; flower spikes 0.5-1.5cm long, flowers typically opening in the morning. Outer sepals not protruding.
Richard's Yellow-eyed-grass Richard's Yellow-eyed-grass Richard's Yellow-eyed-grass
Flower spike
Short outer sepal with
jagged keel
Leaves pale brown at base