CAROLINA

YELLOWEYED
GRASS
Florida native species

(Carolina) Yelloweyed grass

Xyris caroliniana
Xyridaceae
Community/communities

found: in damp to wet habitats;

pine flatwoods, sandhills, upper shores, scrub (oak pine
barrens), coastal interdunal swales, and wet prairies, wet
savannas, bogs, (cypress) swamps, pond and lake margins,
wet depressions and ditches

Habit:

perennial herb

Height:

stems 4 in to 3 ft (mostly 1 to 2.5 ft)

Description
solitary
stems

of stem (if applicable):

or several together

sometimes bulbous, smooth or fibrous; also rigid twisted,

leafless stalks; mostly differentiated into an underground rhizome
and above-ground flower bearing a scape

(Carolina) Yelloweyed grass

Xyris caroliniana
Leaf
Type

description

and arrangement: basal, alternate (distichous),

simple, equitant (overlapping at base)
Shape: principal leaves long, linear and straplike to
round, filiform; obovate, 20-50 cm (L), 2-5 mm (W)
Apex: (if unique) rounded but often tapering to
points
Base: (if unique) abruptly dilated
Margin: entire or erose (minutely tuberculate along
margin)
Surface: (top and bottom if distinctly different):
glabrous, shiny dark outer leaves scalelike

(Carolina) Yelloweyed grass

Xyris caroliniana
Flowers
Complete,

Incomplete, Perfect, Imperfect perfect

Symmetry zygomorphic (bilateral symmetry)
Description of perianth (sepals & petals): 3 yellow or white petals; 3 tan to
red brown sepals as (glumelike) membranes exserted from and hidden by
bracts (unequal with one ephemeral)
Number of stamens: 6, including 3 fertile and 3 brushlike (sterile) staminodes
(covered with hairs); anthers linear and narrow
Description of ovary (inferior/superior, number of carpels, unique
characteristics of stigma): superior ovary; 3 carpels; style 3-branched; each
branch folded terminating in a short bearded stigma
Solitary or type of inflorescence: conelike head of leathery bracts (growing
from the axil), terminal on a long spike (scape), bright yellow or also in FL,
the only white Xyris (esp. in C & S FL), width, on short, slender peduncles;
flowers unfold in the morning/afternoon
Fruit

type: oval nonfleshy, dehiscent capsule with many tiny

oblong, ridged translucent seeds

References
Bridges, Edwin L. and Steve L. Orzell. "Two New Species and a New Combination in Southeastern United
States Xyris (Xyridaceae) from Florida. Novon. 13(1). 16-25.
Flora of North America Association. Flora of North America: north of Mexico. Vol. 22. NY: Oxford UPr.
2000.
Godfrey, Robert K. and Jean W. Wooten. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Southeastern United States:
Monocotyledons. Athens, GA: U GA Pr. 1979.
Holm, Theo. "Upon the Xyridaceae." Botanical Gazette. 18(8). 313-315.
Lee, Jim. "The Yellow-Eyed Grass Family in Florida." The Palmetto. Florida Native Plant Society. 18(2).
Summer, 1998.
Long, Robert W. and Olga Lakela. A Flora of Tropical Florida: a manual of the seed plants and ferns of
Southern peninsular Florida. Miami: Banyan Books. 1978.
Ries, Heinrich. "Review of the North American Species of the Genus Xyris." Bulletin of the Torrey
Botanical Club. 19(2). 1892. 35-43.
Small, John Kunkel. Manual of the Southeastern Flora. Chapel Hill, NC: UNC Pr. 1933.
Sorrie, Bruce A. A Field Guide to Wildflowers of the Sandhills Region: North Carolina, South Carolina,
and Georgia (Southern Gateways Guides). Chapel Hill, NC: UNC Pr. 2011.
Taylor, Walter Kingsley. Florida Wildflowers: a comprehensive guide. Gainesville, FL: Unversity Pr. of FL.
2013.
Tobe, John D. et. al. Florida Wetland Plants: an identification manual. Florida Department of
Environmental Protection. 1998.
http:// www.eflioras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=222000461
http://www.safeplants.co.uk/plant/view_plant/47215?
Scientific_Name=Xyris+caroliniana&Common_Name=Carolina+yelloweyed+grass
http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=3145
http://chestofbooks.com/flora-plants/flowers/Wild-Flowers-New-York/Yellow-Eyed-Grass-FamilyXyridaceae-Carolina-Yellow-Eyed-Grass-Xyris-Carolin.html
http://www.forestventure.com/speciesdetail.cshtml?id=142342
http://zipcode.com/index.php/Xyris_caroliniana
http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=XYCA
http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/xyris-species/
http://crescentbloom/plants/Tribus/XU?Xyridaceae.htm