BEAR-GRASS

Class: Xerophyllum tenax

Family: LILY FAMILY

Sub Family: Liliaceae

Year: Perennial

Other Names: Basket Grass, Squaw Grass

Colour: White

Height: 60 cm-1.2 m (2-4')

Each Flower: 13 mm (1/2") across with pointed petals and sepals all similar and totaling 6, with 6 stamens 13 mm (1/2") long protruding beyond them; style terminates in 3-branched stigma; each white slower-stalk 13 mm (1/2") long with thin grass- like bract about 2.5 cm (1") long as it joins main stem; many bracts down stem become progressively longer and more leaf-like towards bottom

Leaves: Many, basal in large tuft, grass-like with sharp edges and up to 45 cm (1 1/2") long

Stems: Round and woody

Blooming Period: June - September

Habitat: Open wooded areas on mountain slopes and alpine meadows

Note:

Poisonous. Blooming period varies with altitude