What is bear grass?

Bear grass is a flowering permanent plant in the Lily family. It can be found in many parts of North America, usually in the subalpine zone, although it is also hosted by some areas of low ground land. A number of common names are used to reference to the plant, which is known botanically as xerophyllum tenax . Common names include Elk grass, Squaw grass, fiery lily, soap grass and Indian basket grass, some of which are clearly reference to growth habit and use of the plant. The leaves grow in a close cluster around the central stem and flowers grow on high stems that protrude from the leaves. The leaves resemble long shoulder blades and have slightly serrated edges. Flowers grow in a club, such as clusters of white, disk -shaped flowers, which also have a significant slight scent and are a well -known part of the alpine environment. These baskets often integrated materials from other plants to form color patterns and would be strong and durable. Some native Americans also used grass to aimRunning caps for their heads. The leaves are also used in the arrangement of dried flowers.

After individual flowers of plants, it dies and re -deployed through the landscape. Bear Grass also reproduces with rhizomes, thick clusters of underground roots. After the fire, it is one of the first plants to return, because it releases fresh shoots of rhizomes. As a result, the plant is an important part of the ecology of fire and in fact benefits from periodic burns.

trend to suppress fires rather than allow them to burn them, led to severe accumulation of highly flammable undergrowth in the American forests. This results in fires that burn much warmer when they are allowed to burn, rpm in serious damage to the plants, which are usually successful in regular fires. Previously, the fire burned quickly and slightly and used a small collection of flammable undergrowth before the deployment. Raging fires associated with American forestsThey are the result of human intervention, not nature.

In some parts of the United States, "Bear Grass" refers to other plants, such as Microcarpa and some plants in the Yucca family. Many of these plants look similar to xerophyllum tenax , leading to a certain confusion among people who are not qualified in plant identification. All of these plants can be used in gardening as a decorative plant and some kindergartens will squeeze the confusion by marking all the name.