A perennial Monocot, Oryzopsis Hymenoides is of the Poaceae Family and is native to the USA. Its seeds were used by Native Americans as food, especially in years when corn crops failed. They would grind the highly nutritional grains to make bread. The seeds are displayed in a delicate lace-work of pods and emerge in early summer months atop lengthy grass-like yellow-green stems. The bell shaped bracts stowing the seeds are its easiest distinguishing characteristic. It is in flower from May to July. The flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated by wind. By summer’s peak, the plant has turned straw-yellow and will remain so until winter rains encourage growth. Mature bunched plants range in height from 0.4 to 0.7 meters with an average width of about 0.3 meters.
The grass establishes itself well and quickly in areas that have been disturbed by fire or overgrazing. It is often popular in xeriscaping in desert state yards and is actually the official state grass of both Utah and Nevada.
Region and Habitat
Spread throughout every county in Utah, Indian Ricegrass is also found in the following states: AZ, CA, CO, ID, KS, MN, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, WA, and WY. It is found in the Graminoid habitat in areas with average rainfall from 31 to 55 cm (extremely drought tolerate). Growth occurs in full sun (never in shade) and it abides pH levels from 7.0 to 8.0, preferably in sandy soils. Elevation can be as high as 9,000 feet, requiring very low water use.
Genealogy
| Kingdom | Plantae – Plants |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta – Vascular plants |
| Superdivision | Spermatophyta – Seed plants |
| Division | Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants |
| Class | Liliopsida – Monocotyledons |
| Subclass | Commelinidae – |
| Order | Cyperales – |
| Family | Poaceae – Grass family |
| Genus | Achnatherum Beauv. – needlegrass |
| Species | Achnatherum hymenoides (Roemer & J.A. Schultes) Barkworth – Indian ricegrass |