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.Mojave Desert Wildflowers, Pam Mackay, 2nd Ed. 2013, p. 285
Growth pattern It 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.US Forest Service Fire Ecology 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.
References
External links Jepson Manual Treatment USDA Plants Profile Grass Manual Treatment Photo gallery