ARROWFEATHER THREEAWN
File Size: 157 KB
 
Aristida purpurascens  Poir.
Russell County, Kansas
Perennial
Height: 15 to 30 inches tall
Family: Poaceae - Grass Family
Flowering Period:   September,October
Culms: Stiffly erect, simple or sparingly branched, glabrous.
Blades: Flat or involute near the tip, 4 to 8 inches long, less than .08 inch wide; upper surface occasionally with a few hairs near the base.
Sheaths: Keeled, flattened, glabrous to sparsely hairy.
Ligules: Short, hairy.
Inflorescences: Panicle, narrow, slender, 4 to 12 inches long, purplish-gray or brownish; branches less than one inch long, crowded in upper portion of inflorescence.
Spikelets: Narrow, crowded, one-flowered; first glume slightly longer than the second; lemma often covered with purplish spots; awns three, .6 to 1 inch long; central awn slightly longer than lateral two.
Habitat: Dry, sandy soils.
Distribution: Principally in the east half of Kansas.
Reproduction: Reproduces by seed.
Comments: Arrowfeather threeawn is an invader that will increase in overgrazed pastures.
 Compare with purple threeawn and prairie threeawn.

Arrowfeather threeawn inflorescence
155 KB
Russell County, Kansas
Arrowfeather threeawn spikelet
53 KB
Russell County, Kansas
Arrowfeather threeawn
145 KB
Russell County, Kansas