Definition of "bear grass" [bear grass]

• 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. (noun)
• Any of several similar North American plants, especially species of the genera Nolina and Yucca. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Jondalar came over to them and lowered himself carefully to the grass mat beside Ayla while he balanced with both hands a watertight but handleless and somewhat flexible cup, woven out of bear grass in a chevron design of contrasting colors, filled with hot mint tea."