[The Iris Family in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Grass-widow, Grass Widow, Inflated Grass Widows, Inflated purple-eyed Grass, Purple-eyed Grass

Olsynium douglasii var. inflatum

Synonyms: Olsynium inflatum, Sisyrinchium douglasii var. inflatum, Sisyrinchium inflatum

Flower of Grass-widow, Grass Widow, Inflated Grass Widows, Inflated purple-eyed Grass, Purple-eyed Grass: Olsynium douglasii var. inflatum (Synonyms: Olsynium inflatum, Sisyrinchium douglasii var. inflatum, Sisyrinchium inflatum)

The photo above shows a close-up of the corolla of inflated grass widow as seen from atop a cut bank along the Dalles Mt. Road in the Columbia Hills, Columbia River Gorge.......March 3, 2016. Note the inflated base to the filament tube and light violet tepals.
Grass-widow, Grass Widow, Inflated Grass Widows, Inflated purple-eyed Grass, Purple-eyed Grass: Olsynium douglasii var. inflatum (Synonyms: Olsynium inflatum, Sisyrinchium douglasii var. inflatum, Sisyrinchium inflatum) Photo at right of Olsynium inflatum from the top of the Columbia Hills, Columbia River Gorge.......April, 1997.
Characteristics:

The grass widows are beautiful early spring wildflowers. Frequently, they are among the first native flowers to bloom. It forms clusters of grass-like leaves which are shorter than the stems. The flower stems arise from 15-40 cm high, and are topped by 3-4 pale purple, blue, pink or white flowers. The petals are narrow and pointed. The stamens are yellow and the filament tube is strongly inflated just above its base (see photos above and below). They differ from their cousin Olsynium douglasii in having the inflated filament and pointed tips to the petals.

They may be found blooming in the Columbia River Gorge throughout March. Frequently, they paint the landscape purple with their massed bloom.

Habitat:

This grass widow is found in dry open areas which are seasonally wet during the early spring. It may be bound in grassy areas in the sagebrush or sagebrush-juniper lowlands, within grasslands, and within open areas in the ponderosa pine forest.

Range:

Olsynium inflatum may be found on the east side of the Cascade Mts. from south-central British Columbia south to California, and east to Idaho and northern Utah.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found at the crest of the Columbia Hills north of the Dallesport, WA..

Grass-widow, Grass Widow, Inflated Grass Widows, Inflated purple-eyed Grass, Purple-eyed Grass: Olsynium douglasii var. inflatum (Synonyms: Olsynium inflatum, Sisyrinchium douglasii var. inflatum, Sisyrinchium inflatum)

The photo above shows a close-up of the corolla of grass widow (O. inflatum) as seen from the top of the Dalles Mt. Road in the Columbia Hills, Columbia River Gorge.......April 9, 2006. Note the inflated base to the filament tube.

Grass-widow, Grass Widow, Inflated Grass Widows, Inflated purple-eyed Grass, Purple-eyed Grass: Olsynium douglasii var. inflatum (Synonyms: Olsynium inflatum, Sisyrinchium douglasii var. inflatum, Sisyrinchium inflatum)

Olsynium inflatum from the crest of the Columbia Hills.

Grass-widow, Grass Widow, Inflated Grass Widows, Inflated purple-eyed Grass, Purple-eyed Grass: Olsynium douglasii var. inflatum (Synonyms: Olsynium inflatum, Sisyrinchium douglasii var. inflatum, Sisyrinchium inflatum)

Olsynium inflatum from the top of the Columbia Hills, Columbia River Gorge.......April, 1997. Note the inflated base to the filament tube.
Paul Slichter