Hilaria jamesii (formerly Pleuraphis jamesii) is a species of grass known by the common name James' galleta.
| Hilaria jamesii | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Chloridoideae |
| Genus: | Hilaria |
| Species: | H. jamesii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hilaria jamesii (Torr.) Benth.
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Pleuraphis jamesii Torr. | |
Range and habitat
editIt 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.[1]
Growth pattern
editIt is a rhizomatous perennial grass producing bunches of erect stems about 1 mm wide and up to about 60 cm in maximum height. The woody rhizome is shallow, spreading just under the soil surface, but it may reach 6 ft in length and when dense, helps the grass form a sod.[2] Its stems are not fuzzy like those of its relative, Hilaria rigida.[1]
Flowers
editThe inflorescence is a series of hairy, rectangular[citation needed] spikelets.
Fruit
editThe grass produces relatively little viable seed and spreads mostly via its rhizome.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b Mojave Desert Wildflowers, Pam Mackay, 2nd Ed. 2013, p. 285
- ^ a b US Forest Service Fire Ecology
External links
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