Arrowfeather threeawn
Aristida purpurascens Poir.
Images
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Morphology
- Culm
- 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.
- Sheath
- Keeled, flattened, glabrous to sparsely hairy.
- Ligule
- Short, hairy.
- Inflorescence
- 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.
Ecology
- Habitat
- Dry, sandy soils.
- Distribution
- Principally in the east half of Kansas.
- Reproduction
- Reproduces by seed.
Additional Notes
Comments
Arrowfeather threeawn is an invader that will increase in overgrazed pastures.
Special Notes: Compare with purple threeawn and prairie threeawn.
Quick Facts
- Plant Type
- Grass
- Family
- Poaceae - Grass Family
- Life Span
- Perennial
- Height
- 15 to 30 inches tall
- Last Updated
- 2007-06-27
Flowering Period
Jan
Feb
Mar
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Dec
Blooms: September, October