Bill's Botanical Forays

Like the Sagebrush Buttercup, the Inflated Grass Widow (Olsynium douglasii (A. Dietr.) E.P. Bicknell var. inflatum (Suksd.) Cholewa & Douglass M. Hend.) is a harbinger of spring for nature lovers in Spokane. They were in full bloom in the Dishman Hills during my visit there.

 

 

The Inflated Grass Widow is a member of the Iris Family (Iridaceae). Its scientific name was Sisyrinchium inflatum (Suksd.) H. St. John when I first became acquainted with them almost 50 years ago. Recent genetic studies have revealed that they are actually more closely related to the species in the Olsynium genus than to the species in the Sisyrinchium genus.

 

 

 

 

The Inflated Grass Widow is found mostly in the Pacific Northwest interior from Northern California to Northwestern Utah and north through Idaho and to Southern British Columbia. It prefers open areas and is commonly associated with Ponderosa Pine communities and short bunchgrass communities. The flowers have six tepals (petals and sepals collectively) and are about 1.5 to 2 inches (or more) across, much larger than their cousins in the  Sisyrinchium genus. The plants leaves are linear and closely oriented with the stem.

 

 

The variety inflatum is name the Inflated Grass Widow because the flower filaments have an inflated base. Whereas the coastally located variety douglassii does not.