Hilaria jamesii

Hilaria jamesii
File:Hilaria jamesii.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Genus:	Pleuraphis
Species:	P. jamesii
Binomial name
Pleuraphis jamesii Torr.
Synonyms
Hilaria jamesii

Hilaria jamesii (formerly Pleuraphis jamesii) is a species of grass known by the common name James' galleta.

Range and Habitat

It is native to the southwestern United States, where it is widespread in scrub, woodland, grassland, and plateau habitat. It is tolerant of arid environments such as desert floors. It is common in the northern Mojave Desert.

Growth pattern

It is a rhizomatous perennial grass producing bunches of erect stems approximately one millimeter wide and up to about 60 centimeters in maximum height. The woody rhizome is shallow, spreading just under the soil surface, but it may reach 6 feet in length and when dense helps the grass form a sod. Its stems are not fuzzy like those of its relative, Hilaria rigida.

Flowers

The inflorescence is a series of hairy, rectangular spikelets.

Fruit

The grass produces relatively little viable seed and spreads mostly via its rhizome.

External links

• Jepson Manual Treatment
• USDA Plants Profile
• Grass Manual Treatment
• Photo gallery