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Plant Guide

provides poor cover for most wildlife species (Simonin,

JAMES’ GALLETA

2000).

Pleuraphis jamesii Torr.

Galleta can also be used for conservation ground cover on

Plant Symbol = PLJA

areas that have heavy foot traffic (campgrounds, picnic

areas, and roadsides) because it can handle trampling. It

Contributed by: USDA NRCS Idaho and New Mexico

is an excellent plant for erosion control on semi-desert

Plant Materials Centers

sites (Pratt, et al., 2002).

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State

Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current

status (e.g., threatened or endangered species, state

noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Description

General: Grass Family (Poaceae). Galleta is a perennial,

warm season grass with strong rhizomes, but commonly

is found growing in bunches. Stems are erect, 30-50 cm

(11-19 in) tall, leaves 2-4 mm (0.08-0.16 in) wide, 2-5 cm

(0.79-1.97 in) long; leaf sides are smooth and edges are

scabrous. Collars are pubescent with pilose hairs at the

margins and auricles are absent. Ligules are

membranous, 1.8-2.2mm (0.07-0.09 in) long, obtuse,

ciliolate, and glabrous. Inflorescence is a raceme with a

wavy rachis, 3-10 cm (1.18-3.94 in) long with spikelets in

clusters of 3 per node. The central spikelets (next to the

axis) are fertile and 1-flowered. The 2 lateral spikelets

are staminate, 6-8 mm (0.24-0.31 in) long and hairy at

base. Glumes are 4-5 mm (0.16-0.20 in) long, linear and

unequally 2-lobed at the apex. Glumes of the central

spikelet are sub equal, 4-5.5 mm (0.16-0.22 in) long,

ciliate and apex is divided into 4-8 awned lobes. The

awns are 1.5-5mm (0.06-0.20 in) long. Lemmas are 6-7

mm (0.24-0.28 in) long, 3-5 nerved, and blunt (Skinner,

2010).

Under favorable conditions, bunches merge forming a

James' galleta. Photo by Los Lunas Plant Materials Center.

sod. Rhizomes occur 1-2 inches (2.5-5.1 cm) below the

soil surface. Few roots extend further than 18 inches (50

Alternate Names

cm) below the soil surface. The tough, woody rhizomes

Common Alternate Names: Galleta, Curly grass, Jim’s

may reach 5-6 feet (1.5-1.8 m) in length (Simonin, 2000).

laughing grass

Scientific Alternate Names: Hilaria jamesii (Torr.) Benth.

Ethnobotany

The Hopi tribe used galleta for basketry, coiled trays, and

Uses

as floor and hair brushes. The Navajo tribe used it as a

Galleta is a desirable forage plant for cattle, horses and

dietary/pediatric aid to make babies “want to eat a lot”

sheep during active plant growth in late spring and early

and for horse and sheep feed because it withstands

summer. Palatability is rated as moderate during active

trampling and close grazing (Native American

growth and relatively unpalatable during dormant periods.

Ethnobotany, Online).

Sheep typically feed upon central portions of galleta tufts,

leaving the coarser growth around the outer edges. It is

Distribution: Galleta is widespread throughout southern

used to some extent by deer and antelope. Desert bighorn

California to the desert mountains of Nevada, Arizona,

sheep of the Mojave Desert utilize galleta as forage. It

New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, southern Wyoming, and

Plant Guide - James' Galleta Pleuraphis Jamesii Torr. - U.s. Deparment O Agriculture

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