Taxon Report

Sisyrinchium funereum Bickn.

Death Valley blue-eyed grass

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Taxon Summary

Sisyrinchium funereum, commonly known as Death Valley blue-eyed grass, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Iridaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Meadows and seeps, growing at elevations from 40 to 915 meters. Sisyrinchium funereum is ranked 1B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Sisyrinchium funereum Bickn.
Common Name:
Death Valley blue-eyed grass
Family: Iridaceae
Element Code: PMIRI0D0L0
USDA Plants Symbol: SIFU
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial rhizomatous herb
Blooming Period: Feb-Apr Feb-Apr
Elevation: 40-915 (130-3000)
General Habitats: Meadows and seeps
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 11
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 1
   Good (B) 2
   Fair (C) 1
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 7
California Endemic:  False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Inyo (INY)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Furnace Creek (3611647), Nevares Peak (3611657), Sand Spring (3711725), Ubehebe Crater (3711714)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 5
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
6 55 %
Non-native plant impacts 3 27%
Groundwater pumping 2 18%
Surface water diversion 1 9%
Foot traffic/trampling 1 9%
Grazing 1 9%

Notes

Known in CA only from the Death Valley area. See Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 31:387 (1904) for original description.
Threats:
Taxonomy:
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 1 February 2025].