Sisyrinchium micranthum

Cav. Blue Pigroot
Diss. 6: 345, t. 191, fig. 2. (1788)
Taxonomic status Accepted
Occurrence status Present
Origin Introduced
Degree of establishment Naturalised

Annual or perennial herb. Stem usually branched, jointed, flattened to winged, 10–60 cm high, 1–3 mm wide. Leaves 5–20 cm long, 2–5 mm wide. Inflorescence with primary bracts narrowly ovate, sub-equal, 1.5–5 cm long. Perianth 10–20 mm diam., white to cream-coloured with purple-brown or blue throat; lobes oblong, acute to acuminate, usually sparsely glandular-pilose externally; staminal filaments 2–3 mm long, almost completely united; anthers c. 1.5 mm long; ovary 1–2 mm diam., glabrous or glandular-pilose. Capsule (3–)4–6 mm diam., brown; seeds angular, c. 1 mm diam., dark brown. Flowers Oct.–Feb.(–Apr.).

Wim, GleP, VVP, VRiv, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, VAlp. Also naturalised WA, SA, Qld, NSW. Native to Mexico and South America.  A weed of gardens, roadsides and other disturbed areas.

Created by: Val Stajsic, 8 Jan. 2018
Updated by: Val Stajsic, 21 Sep. 2020
Sisyrinchium micranthum (hero image) Spinning
Sisyrinchium micranthum (distribution map) Spinning