Hilaria jamesii

Galleta

Field view of Hilaria jamesii, whose common name is Galleta.

In closer view you can see the seedheads, which look rough compared to other similar seedheads.

View of Hilaria jamesii on a cloudy day.

This shows the thin stems and leaves.

These flower-like bundles of spikelets of Hilaria jamesii are called fascicles.

Here are some fascicles before they open. Sometimes the seedhead is green, otherwise pink.

Sometimes the fascicles show pink. This one is in anthesis, though not fully opened, and you can see the yellow anthers.

Here are two fascicles in micro view, showing their complexity. The stigmas are protruding from the top. These extend up from the ovary to collect wind-blown pollen.

The roots of Galleta.

How to Identify Galleta

  Tight bunches of spikelets are called fascicles. Galleta fascicles look thin and spike-like until maturity and anthesis. Then the spikes become wider as the fascicles open out. To me the fascicles (spikelets) look like flowers, pink or white. They have a tuft of dense 1/8-inch hairs at the base and look hairy all over. Take a close look at the fascicles, because this shape will be reliable as a field mark. The stigmas don't always protrude as in above photos.
  The stems are quite thin. The two or three-inch inflorescence looks rough even from a distance, especially when opened.  Hilaria jamesii is usually about knee-high or less. Galleta has not been found in these counties: GRA, GRE, LAP, PIM, PIN, SAN (abbreviations shown here).

Similar Species

  Most similar are the three other Hilaria species in Arizona: Hilaria rigida (Big Galleta) is very tall, sometimes taller than your head, and has thick, tough stems like a shrub. Hilaria belangeri is only a foot tall. Its fascicles are less hairy, having no tuft of hairs at the base. Hilaria mutica is actually the most flower-like of all and much less hairy-looking than Galleta. It has wide, spatulate, petal-like glumes.
  The varied species of Cenchrus are also fascicled but look very different from Galleta. Some are hard and stickery, while others look like the below, Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris).