Olsynium filifolium
# Olsynium filifolium

Olsynium filifolium (pale maiden), or Bermudiana filifolia, is the only species of the iris family native to the Falkland Islands. It is much better known by its former name Sisyrinchium filifolium. Although it is no longer as common as it once was, it is widely distributed on the islands, and favours temperate dwarf shrub heath. It (or a closely related species) is also found in Patagonia.

## Description

Height is 10–30 centimetres (4–12 in) tall. Leaves are linear, 4–20 centimetres (1.6–7.9 in) long and 1–3 millimetres (0.04–0.12 in) broad.

Flowers are sweet smelling, and bell-shaped with six white tepals with pale purplish-red markings. They bloom in spring, particularly in November.

