Geyer's oniongrass facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Geyer's oniongrass
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Subfamily:	Pooideae
Genus:	Melica
Species:	M. geyeri
Binomial name
Melica geyeri Munro ex Bol.
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Melica geyeri, also known as Geyer's oniongrass, is a special type of grass. It gets its common name "oniongrass" because the bottom part of its stem looks a bit like an onion! This interesting plant grows naturally in certain parts of the western United States.

Where Geyer's Oniongrass Lives

Geyer's oniongrass is native to two states: Oregon and California. You can find it growing in many different places. It loves to live in mountain forests, where trees provide some shade. It also thrives on open hillsides, where it can get plenty of sunshine. A big area where it grows is the famous Sierra Nevada mountain range.

What Geyer's Oniongrass Looks Like

Geyer's oniongrass is a perennial grass, which means it lives for more than two years. It can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching up to 2 meters (about 6.5 feet)! The base of its stem is unique because it swells up into round, onion-like parts called corms.

The plant's flowers grow in a wide cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster has many long, thin, pointed spikelets. These spikelets are usually green with cool purple stripes or bands, making them quite pretty to look at up close.