Olsynium


Olsynium is a genus of summer-dormant rhizomatous perennial flowering plants in the iris family Iridaceae, native to sunny hillsides in South America and western North America.

Description

Height is tall. Leaves are linear, long and broad.
Flowers are bell-shaped, with six white, pink, or lilac tepals, and bloom from late winter to spring.

Etymology

The genus name is derived from the Greek words ol, meaning "a little", and syn-, meaning "joined", referring to the stamens.

Taxonomy

The taxon Olsynium was formerly considered as part of the genus Sisyrinchium. The following species are recognised in the genus Olsynium:
ImageScientific nameDistribution
Olsynium acaule GoldblattPeru, Bolivia, northwestern Argentina
Olsynium andinum Ravennacentral Chile, Neuquén Province in Argentina
Olsynium biflorum GoldblattSanta Cruz + Tierra del Fuego Provinces in southern Argentina
Olsynium bodenbenderi GoldblattMendoza Province in Argentina
Olsynium chrysochromum J.M.Watson & A.R.Florescentral Chile
Olsynium douglasii E.P.BicknellBritish Columbia, Washington, Oregon, extreme northern California, Idaho, northern Nevada, northwestern Utah
Olsynium filifolium Goldblattsouthern Argentina, Falkland Islands
Olsynium junceum GoldblattBolivia, Argentina, Chile
Olsynium lyckholmii Goldblattcentral Chile, southern Argentina
Olsynium nigricans R.A.Rodr. & Martic.Maule Province in Chile
Olsynium obscurum Goldblattsouthern Chile, Tierra del Fuego Province in Argentina
Olsynium philippii Goldblattcentral Chile
Olsynium porphyreum RavennaPeru
Olsynium scirpoideum Goldblattcentral + northern Chile, Rio Negro Province in Argentina
Olsynium stoloniferum RavennaO'Higgins Province in Chile
Olsynium trinerve R.A.Rodr. & Martic.Costa Rica, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile
Olsynium villosum RavennaSantiago Province in Chile