Nolina texana
Texas Sacahuiste
Family: Asparagaceae
This is not a grass at all, but a plant that is more closely related to agaves. This plant generally matures to about 3’ tall and wide. Many populations in the eastern portion of its distribution, in Texas, are much wider than tall, almost looking flattened. The plants in Arizona are more upright, perhaps genetically influenced by the other native Nolina (this species is distinguished from N. microcarpa by having a shorter inflorescence which doesn’t surpass the leaves and leaves with sparse to no teeth on the margins). Flowers late winter-early spring.
Plant in full to part sun, moderate to low water when established. Provide good drainage. Hardy to -20°F.
Larval food host for the Gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus) and yucca moths (Prodoxidae family). Native solitary bees will use the dry stalks as larval nests.
Specific use of species is unknown in the eastern half of its distribution, however Nolina plants are used to make baskets, mats and cradles, and the crowns and bases of leaves are pounded together to make soap by the Apache in the western half of its population.
Nolina is named for Abbe Pierre Charles Nolin (1717- 1795) a French arboriculturalist, while texana means of or from, or somehow relating to, Texas. There are 30 species of Nolina with a native distribution that includes most of Mexico and the southern regions of the United States.
Found on limestone or granitic substrates on rocky hillsides, grasslands and shrublands, from 500-6,500 ft. in southern Arizona, southern Colorado, New Mexico, southern Texas, western Oklahoma, south into northern Mexico.
Floral detail, photo by lcbatte on iNaturalist
This individual really displays the almost prostrate-like growth pattern of the Texas populations of this species, photo by firebugzy on iNaturalist
An individual in the Little Hatchet Mountains, displaying the more upright nature of the easterly populartions of this plant, photo by Patrick Alexander, Wikipedia