Indian Ricegrass

DESCRIPTION: Indian Ricegrass is a bushy grass that grows in clumps. This grass has numerous uses and is very hardy, even in a drought. Because of this, the Native Americans used to gather the seeds and grind them into meal or flour. They would then bake it into bread. It was a food staple for the Native Americans, especially when the corn crop failed. The pioneers in the area also ate Indian Ricegrass (State of Utah 2003). It can also be used to feed livestock while it is fresh or dried out in the summer. The plant likes sandy soils and cannot live in very wet conditions. It is hard to domesticate so most varieties used by the Native Americans were probably wild (Sharp Bros. Seed Company 2003). The seeds come out easily and are easy to harvest.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.potters.org/subject00958.htm
http://go-southwest.com/cooking/historical/greens.shtml
http://www.tablemountains.org/Pages/Activities/052601/vanness/nativeplants.htm
http://pioneer.utah.gov/grass.html

© Copyright 2003 Northern Arizona University.

This page was authored by Laura Caruthers