Tobosa
Hilaria mutica
Family: Poaceae
Rhizomatous perennial grass reaching about 2’ high and spreading. H. mutica distinguished by lacking stolons, having thick rhizomes and robust, thick, rigid leaves and leaf bases. The culms are not felty pubescent as in H. rigida and the glumes are conspicuously widened toward the apex, unlike H. jamesii.
Full to part sun, can exist off irrigation especially in areas that naturally collect water, but will look best on irrigation. Very drought tolerant, this species has the ability to become totally dormant as soil moisture drops.
This is a great grass for tortoise enclosures because it spreads fast, keeping up with the tortoise appetite (if watered correctly). Native grasses are extremely important plants for wildlife: as nesting material for birds as well as native bees and other insects, as habitat for many organisms, and as food: adult insects eat the foliage, granivorous birds depend on many species for seeds, and most grass species are used as larval hosts for many species of butterflies and moths, especially skippers. Many bee species collect the pollen of many species of grasses.
Hilaria is named for Auguste St. Hilaire (1779-1853), a French naturalist; the specific epithet honors another French naturalist, Charles Paulus Belanger (1805-1881). There are 10 species of Hilaria found in the Southwestern United States, Mexico, and Guatemala. Sometimes known as Pleuraphis mutica.
Found on dry, exposed, sandy to rocky slopes and plains, from 2,000-6,000 ft. in California, Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas; south into central Mexico.
Freshly blooming inflorescence, photo by Sue Carnahan, SEINET
Ripe seed head, photo by Max Licher, SEINET