Nolina bigelovii

Nolina bigelovii, Bigelow’s nolina or beargrass, is a flowering monocot plant in the Ruscaceae (Butcher’s-broom) family that is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It grows in the driest desert areas and at elevations up to 1500 meters, primarily in the Mojave Desert. The genus Nolina has undergone several taxonomic changes. Despite its appearance and common name of Beargrass, it is not a grass. Both the foliage and flowers resemble Yuccas which are in a different family. It was previously grouped in the Liliaceae (Lily) family. The trunklike stem may exceed 2 meters in height, part of which may be underground. In maturity it may branch. The stiff, shreddy leaves are arranged in rosettes about the stem, with up to 150 per rosette. The bases are thick and fleshy and much wider than the rest of the blade. The treelike flower cluster may approach 4 meters in height. The tiny flowers each have six whitish petals a few millimeters in length.