Purple threeawn
Aristida purpurea Nutt.
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Morphology
- Culm
- Erect, tufted, 6 to 30 inches tall, glabrous, hollow.
- Blades
- Mostly basal, rolled inward or flat, 1 to 12 inches long, less than 1/10 inch wide, straight to curved, rough above; tips sharp-pointed.
- Sheath
- Glabrous or slightly rough, collar often with tufts of long hairs on both sides.
- Ligule
- Tiny fringed membranes.
- Inflorescence
- Panicles, narrow, 1.5 to 12 inches long, loose, open or contracted, usually purplish or reddish, often nodding, branches stiff to zigzag.
- Spikelets
- Stalked, 1-flowered; first glume about half as long as second glume; lemmas tipped with 3 nearly equal awns 1 to 3 inches long.
Ecology
- Habitat
- Hills, plains, disturbed sites, waste places and overgrazed areas, often in dry, sandy soils.
- Distribution
- Principally in the west two-thirds of Kansas.
Practical Information
- Toxicity
- The awns can cause eye, nose and mouth injuries in livestock.
- Forage Value
- Purple threeawn provides poor forage value.
Additional Notes
Comments
Aristida purpurea is a highly variable species. There are several varieties in Kansas.
Special Notes: Compare also with prairie threeawn and arrowfeather threeawn.
Quick Facts
- Plant Type
- Grass
- Family
- Poaceae - Grass Family
- Life Span
- Perennial
- Height
- 6 to 30 inches tall
- Last Updated
- 2018-02-24
Flowering Period
Jan
Feb
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Dec
Blooms: May, June, July, August