Xerophyllum

Xerophyllum is a genus of perennial lily from the family Melanthiaceae. The genus is native to North America, and has five species.

Some Species
Xerophyllum tenax (Helonias tenax) is a grasslike perennial in the family Melanthiaceae, closely related to lilies. It is known by several common names, including bear grass, squaw grass, soap grass, quip-quip, and Indian basket grass. It can grow to 15-150 cm in height and grows in bunches with the leaves wrapped around and extending from a small stem at ground level. The leaves are 30-100 cm long and 2-6 mm wide, dull olive green with toothed edges. The slightly fragrant white flowers emerge from a tall stalk that bolts from the base. When the flowers are in bloom they are tightly packed at the tip of the stalk like an upright club. The plant is found mostly in western North America from British Columbia south to California and east to Wyoming, in subalpine meadows and coastal mountains, and also on low ground in the California coastal fog belt. It is common on the Olympic Peninsula and in the Cascades, northern Sierra Nevada and Rockies.
Xerophyllum tenax is an important part of the fire ecology of regions where it is native. It has rhizomes which survive fire that clears dead and dying plant matter from the surface of the ground. The plant thrives with periodic burns and is often the first plant to sprout in a scorched area.
USES:This species was long used by Native Americans who wove it into baskets. Its fibrous leaves, which turn from green to white as they dry, are tough, durable, and easily dyed and manipulated into tight waterproof weaves.

Xerophyllum gramineum

Xerophyllum asphodeloides

Xerophyllum sabadilla

Xerophyllum douglasii

Eichhornia - Water hyacinth

The seven species of water hyacinths comprise the genus Eichhornia. Water hyacinth are free-floating perennial aquatic plants native to tropical South America. With broad, thick, glossy, ovate leaves, water hyacinths may rise above the surface... more >>>

Jasmine

Jasmine or Jessamine (Jasminum) (from Persian yasmin, i.e. "gift from God") is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family (Oleaceae),with about 200 species, native to tropical and warm temperate regions of the Old World. The... more >>>

Odontocidium

Odontocidium, abbreviated as Odcdm in horticultural trade, is a genus of orchids (family Orchidaceae) of two orchid genera Odontoglossum and Oncidium (Odm x Onc). Many orchids formerly classified as Colmanara have been reclassified as... more >>>

Oenanthe - Water dropwort

The Oenanthe or water dropworts is a genus of plants from the family Apiaceae. Oenanthe is derived from the Greek oinos "wine" and anthos "flower", from the wine-like scent of the flowers.

Several of the... more >>>

Calluna

Calluna vulgaris (also known as Ling) is the sole species in the genus Calluna in the family Ericaceae. It is the true Heather of Europe, and National Flower of Norway. However it also has an affiliation to Scotland and is the most common... more >>>