Hilaria jamesii (Pleuraphis jamesii)
Hilaria jamesii (synonymously, Pleuraphis jamesii), commonly known as James' galleta or Curly Grass, is a warm season perennial monocot. Having a short height of 3 to 20 inches, it is found all over the southwestern United States, from Wyoming to California and West Texas. It is commonly found in Utah at elevations from 2500 to 7500 feet, and prefers habitats with predictable summer rainfall and well-drained soils. This rhizomatous bunchgrass has a dull blue-green color and produces a wind-pollinated, hermaphroditic flower from July to August. H. jamesii uses a C4 photosynthetic pathway and stands in the Colorado Plateau often have a highly developed biological soil crust present. H. jamesii communities may be heavily impacted by Bromus tectorum (cheat grass) invasions.
While it has no known medicinal or culinary uses, it has been used traditionally for basket weaving as well as for floor and hair brushes. Being resistant to both drought and trampling, it is also used as a forage plant for cattle, horses, and sheep. It has a strong stabilizing effect on soil and so can be used to control erosion.
Species often found with H. jamesii include Stipa comata, Stipa hymenoides, Ephedra viridis, Ephedra torreyana, Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Coleogyne ramosissima, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Sporobolus cryptandrus.
Image taken from the Utah Range Plants Index of the Utah State University Extension
Image taken from Sevilleta Long Term Ecological Research
Distribution of H. jamesii in Utah
Taken from the Atlas of the Vascular Plants of Utah.