Read Next
Animals & Nature
curly mesquite
plant
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Thank you for your feedback
Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
External Websites
Category:
Animals & Nature
- Related Topics:
- Poaceae
- common curly mesquite
- James’s galleta
curly mesquite, (genus Hilaria), genus of about 10 species of grasses in the family Poaceae, native primarily to warm dry areas of southern North America. All the species are important range grasses; common curly mesquite (Hilaria belangeri) and James’s galleta (H. jamesii) are particularly palatable to livestock when fresh and green.
Curly mesquites can be annuals or perennials and are commonly tufted. Some species have tenacious rhizomes (underground stems) or stolons and are important soil binders. The branched inflorescences bear reduced flower spikelets and produce grains with or without hairy awns, depending on the species.
Britannica Quiz
Plants: From Cute to Carnivorous