bear grass

bear grass

n.

1. A western North American perennial herb (Xerophyllum tenax) in the lily family, having a dense clump of basal grasslike leaves and a tall stalk bearing a terminal raceme of small whitish flowers.

2. Any of several similar North American plants, especially species of the genera Nolina and Yucca.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	bear grass - yucca of southern United States having a clump of basal grasslike leaves and a central stalk with a terminal raceme of small whitish flowers Yucca smalliana yucca - any of several evergreen plants of the genus Yucca having usually tall stout stems and a terminal cluster of white flowers; warmer regions of North America
	2.	bear grass - yucca of west central United States having a clump of basal grasslike leaves and a central stalk with a terminal raceme of small whitish flowers Yucca glauca yucca - any of several evergreen plants of the genus Yucca having usually tall stout stems and a terminal cluster of white flowers; warmer regions of North America
	3.	bear grass - stemless plant with tufts of grasslike leaves and erect panicle of minute creamy white flowers; southwestern United States and Mexico Nolina microcarpa agave, American aloe, century plant - tropical American plants with basal rosettes of fibrous sword-shaped leaves and flowers in tall spikes; some cultivated for ornament or for fiber genus Nolina, Nolina - perennial plants resembling yucca; found in southern United States and Mexico
	4.	bear grass - plant of western North America having woody rhizomes and tufts of stiff grasslike basal leaves and spikes of creamy white flowers squaw grass, Xerophyllum tenax liliaceous plant - plant growing from a bulb or corm or rhizome or tuber genus Xerophyllum, Xerophyllum - small genus of North American herbs having grasslike basal leaves: squaw grass; sometimes placed in family Melanthiaceae