Nolina parryi (Parry's beargrass,[2] Parry nolina,[3] or giant nolina)[3] is a flowering plant that is native to Baja California, southern California and Arizona.

Nolina parryi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Genus: Nolina
Species:
N. parryi
Binomial name
Nolina parryi
Synonyms[1]
  • Nolina bigelovii var. parryi (S.Watson) L.D.Benson
  • Nolina bigelovii subsp. parryi (S.Watson) A.E.Murray
  • Nolina parryi subsp. wolfii Munz
  • Nolina bigelovii var. wolfii (Munz) L.D.Benson in L.D.Benson & R.A.Darrow
  • Nolina wolfii (Munz) Munz
  • Nolina bigelovii subsp. wolfii (Munz) A.E.Murray

Description

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It can exceed 2 m (6+12 ft) in height, its inflorescence reaching 4 m (13 ft). The trunk is up to 60 cm (24 in) in diameter. The leaves are borne in dense rosettes, each with up to 220 stiff linear leaves up to 140 cm (55 in) long and 2–4 cm (1–1+12 in) broad.[4] It is dioecious, with separate male and female plants; the flowers are white, about 6 mm (14 in) wide, produced on the 60 cm (24 in) tall plume-like inflorescence from April to June.[3][4][5]

Distribution and habitat

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Native to Baja California, southern California[4] and Arizona, the species can be found in deserts and mountains at altitudes of up to 2,100 m (6,900 ft).

Uses

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Native Americans consumed the young stems and wove the leaves into baskets.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. ^ NRCS. "Nolina parryi". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Flora of North America: Nolina parryi
  4. ^ a b c d Spellenberg, Richard (2001) [1979]. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region (rev ed.). Knopf. p. 327. ISBN 978-0-375-40233-3.
  5. ^ Jepson Flora Project: Nolina parryi

Further reading

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  • Stewart, Jon Mark (1998), Mojave Desert Wildflowers, p. 7.
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