Plant
Bear Grass
Xerophyllum tenax
Photo: Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0
Common Names
Bear Grass / Indian Basket Grass
Habitat
Mountain meadows and open forests of the Pacific Northwest
First Observed
1806-06-15
Observed At
Lolo Trail, near Eldorado Creek, Idaho County, Idaho
Lewis described bear grass on June 15, 1806, on the Lolo Trail in the Bitterroot Mountains, noting “There is a great abundance of a species of bear-grass which grows on every part of these mountains.” The plant was first called “beargrass” by members of the expedition. Its leaves were extensively used by Northwest Native peoples for weaving intricate waterproof baskets and hats.
Journal Excerpt
Lewis, June 15, 1806: "There is a great abundance of a species of bear-grass which grows on every part of these mountains. it's growth is luxouriant and continues green all winter but the horses will not eat it."
Journal References
15 journal entries mention Bear Grass
Sep
2
1804
Clark: September 2, 1804
...s Stretched to Cover the
Perogues water riseing, I observe Bear grass & Rhue in the Sides of
the hills at Sunset the wind luled and cleared up coolAired the
meet all i...
Oct
7
1804
Clark: October 7, 1804
...rd from the South, passed a large
open Island covered with grass and wild rye, I walked on the Isd & 4
men they Killed a Braroe & a Black tale Doe with a black bre...
Aug
21
1805
Lewis: August 21, 1805
...ed to the air.
some wet deerskins that had been spread the grass last evening are stiffly
frozen. the ink feizes in my pen. the bottoms are perfectly covered with
...
Aug
21
1805
Clark: August 21, 1805
...ewis's party, this man informed me he found the tomk in the grass
near the place the man Slept. Crossed the River and went over a point of
high land & Struck it ag...
Oct
17
1805
Clark: October 17, 1805
... feet 6 Inches. the tail
feathers 13 Inches long, feeds on grass hoppers, and the Seed of wild
Isoop 6
Those Indians are orderly, badly dressed in the Same fashion...
Oct
31
1805
Clark: October 31, 1805
...h them; Soon after my return two Canoes loaded
with fish & Bear grass for the trade below, came down,from the village
at the mouth of the Catterack River, they unloaded...
Nov
1
1805
Clark: November 1, 1805
...les which they appear to trade mostly i e Pounded fish, Beargrass,
and roots; cannot be an object of comerce with furin merchantshowever
they git in return for tho...
Nov
2
1805
Clark: November 2, 1805
... Setting out 7 Squars came over loaded with Dried fish, and bear grass
neetly bundled up, Soon after 4 Indian men came down over the rapid in a
large canoe. passed a ra...
Nov
21
1805
Clark: November 21, 1805
... bushes just
abov the groundwe also purchased hats made of Grass &c. of
those Indians, Some very handsom mats made of flags-Some fiew curious
baskets made of a St...
Jan
17
1806
Lewis: January 17, 1806
...ame manner. their baskets are formed of cedar bark
and beargrass so closely interwoven with the fingers that they are
watertight without the aid of gum or rosin; s...
Jan
19
1806
Lewis: January 19, 1806
...f their own manufactory
and are composed of Cedar bark and bear grass interwoven with the fingers
and ornimented with various colours and figures, they are nearly
wate...
Jan
19
1806
Clark: January 19, 1806
...f their own manufactory and are Composed of
Cedar bark and bear grass interwoven with the fingers and ornimented with
various Colours and figures, they are nearly water...
Feb
22
1806
Clark: February 22, 1806
... of excellent hats made of Cedar bark,
and ornemented with bear grass. two of those hats had been made by measure
which Capt Lewis and my Self had given a woman Some ti...
Feb
22
1806
Lewis: February 22, 1806
... excellent hats made of Cedar bark and
ornamented with beargrass. two of these hats had been made by measures
which Capt Clark and myself had given one of the wome...
Mar
19
1806
Clark: March 19, 1806
... articles which
are prepared of rushes, flags, Cedar bark, bear grass or way tape, also
dress and manufacture the Hats & robes for Common use. the management
of the Ca...
