bear grass

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

bear′ grass′, 

1. Plant Biology Also called elk grass. a tall, western North American plant, Xerophyllum tenax, of the lily family, having narrow leaves and a dense, broad cluster of tiny white flowers.
2. Plant Biology any of several other plants having linear, grasslike leaves, as those of the genera Nolina and
   Dasylirion.
• 1740–50, American.