Sisyrinchium is a large genus of annual to perennial flowering plants in the family Iridaceae.

This may be due to niche species emerging from their unique tendency toward rapid speciation which helps them adapt to specialized arenic habitats.

The genus includes species with blue, white, yellow, and purple petals, often with a contrasting centre.

[4] Approximately one third of the species in the genus have oil producing hairs called elaiophores to attract oil-bees.

As Goldblatt and Manning explain, "the reason for applying the name to a genus of New World Iridaceae was apparently arbitrary.