: either of two perennial grasses (Hilaria rigida and H. jamesii synonym Pleuraphis rigida and P. jamesii) chiefly of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico used for forage
galle·ta grass
variants
or less commonly galleta
plural -s
: either of two perennial forage grasses (Hilaria rigida and H.jamesii) used for hay in southwestern U.S. and Mexico
Examples of galleta in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2021
Specific to Arizona, galleta, sand dropseed, Indian rice grass and grama grass are better for growing during a drought than fescue, rye and Kentucky bluegrass, Hauser says.
—Washington Post, 7 July 2021
Some grass species in these habitats include red oat grass and Rhodes grass in tropical savannas, and purple needlegrass and galleta in temperate areas.
—Christina Nunez, National Geographic, 22 June 2019
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Noun
Other recent blooms include a native grass called needle grama, brittle creosote, desert senna, Acton encelia or brittlebush, and big galleta grass.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2021
Specific to Arizona, galleta, sand dropseed, Indian rice grass and grama grass are better for growing during a drought than fescue, rye and Kentucky bluegrass, Hauser says.
—Washington Post, 7 July 2021
Some grass species in these habitats include red oat grass and Rhodes grass in tropical savannas, and purple needlegrass and galleta in temperate areas.
—Christina Nunez, National Geographic, 22 June 2019
Cite this Entry
“Galleta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/galleta. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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