Sacahuista
Nolina microcarpa
Family: Asparagaceae
Also known as just “beargrass” these plants are grassy succulent plants that reach about 5’ tall, and a bit wider than tall. In the summer it sends up a tall stalk of greenish to tan flowers. The leaf blades have stringy curly cues on the ends of the leaves that are rather attractive, especially at sunset (or sunrise).
Full to part sun, low water (supplement water in summer about once or twice a month). Hardy to -10°F.
Taken for rheumatism, for pneumonia and lung hemorrhages; the stalks were eaten; the seeds were made a flour or meal for bread or mush; the fruit was eaten raw or preserved; plant was used as a dye, for basketry, rugs, mats and other forms of weaving, for brushes, rope, and cord; the roots were used for soap; and the dried leaves were used as cooking tools.
Larval host for the Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), the snout moth Sosipatra rileyella, and yucca moths (Prodoxidae family). Native solitary bees will use the dry stalks as larval nests.
Nolina is named for Abbe Pierre Charles Nolin (b. 1717) a French arboriculturalist, while microcarpa means having small fruits or seed pods. There are 30 species of Nolina with the principal distribution being in Mexico and extending into the southern United States.
Found on rocky slopes and hills from 3,000-6,000’ in southern Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, south into Mexico.