Natural and Cultural History of Beargrass (Xerophyllum Tenax)

Download or read book Natural and Cultural History of Beargrass (Xerophyllum Tenax) written by Susan Stevens Hummel and published by . This book was released on 2013-07-25 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Beargrass (Xerophyllum tenax (Pursh) Nutt.) is a source of food, habitat, and raw material for animals, pollinating insects, and people across its range in the Western U.S. Native Americans have long harvested the leaves for basketry and other crafts. More recently, beargrass has become an important component of international trade for the commercial floral greens industry. Changes in natural and anthropogenic disturbances are occurring within the range of beargrass, including fire frequency and severity, plant harvest intensity, and land use. This report documents how changes in disturbance patterns might affect beargrass and its associated ecosystem diversity, identifies gaps in knowledge or potential conflicts in human use, and records quantitative and qualitative information on the natural and cultural history of beargrass. Figures and tables.