James' galleta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids James' galleta |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hilaria
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| Species: |
jamesii
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| Synonyms | |
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Pleuraphis jamesii Torr. |
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Hilaria jamesii is a type of grass often called James' galleta. It used to be known as Pleuraphis jamesii. This special grass is very tough and can grow in dry places. It's an important plant in many desert and grassland areas.
Where It Grows
James' galleta grass is found naturally in the southwestern United States. You can see it growing in many different places like scrubland, woodland areas, open grasslands, and high plateaus. It's especially good at living in dry, hot environments, like the sandy floors of deserts. This grass is very common in the northern part of the Mojave Desert.
How It Grows
This grass is a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. It grows in clumps with straight stems that are about 1 millimeter wide. These stems can reach up to 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) tall.
James' galleta has a special underground stem called a rhizome. This rhizome is woody and grows just below the soil surface. It can spread out quite far, sometimes up to 6 feet long! When many rhizomes grow close together, they form a thick mat, or "sod," which helps the grass cover the ground well. Unlike some of its relatives, like Hilaria rigida, the stems of James' galleta are not fuzzy.
Flowers and Reproduction
The flowers of James' galleta grow in a special cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster looks like a series of rectangular, hairy spikes, which are called spikelets.
This grass doesn't produce many seeds that can grow into new plants. Instead, it mostly spreads and grows new plants using its long, spreading rhizomes. This way, it can quickly cover an area and form large patches of grass.
See also
In Spanish: Hilaria jamesii para niños
