| Purple three-awn | |
|---|---|
| |
| Conservation status | |
 Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Genus: | Aristida |
| Species: | A. purpurea |
| Binomial name | |
| Aristida purpurea Nutt. | |
Aristida purpurea is a species of grass native to North America which is known by the common name purple three-awn.
Distribution
This grass is fairly widespread and can be found across the western two thirds of the United States, much of southern Canada and parts of northern Mexico. It is most abundant on the plains.
Description
This is a perennial bunchgrass, growing erect to under a meter-3 feet in height, and the flower glumes often assumes a light brown to reddish-purple color. There are several varieties with overlapping geographical ranges. This is not considered to be a good graze for livestock because the awns are sharp and the protein content of the grass is low.
References
- Romand-Monnier, F. (2013). "Aristida purpurea". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 208. IUCN. e.T44392137A44461465. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T44392137A44461465.en.
- Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. ser. 2, 5: 145. 1835 "Plant Name Details for Aristida purpurea". IPNI. Retrieved December 4, 2009.
External links
- Calflora Database: Aristida purpurea (Purple three awn)
- Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of Aristida purpurea
- United States Department of Agriculture, National Fores Service, Fire Effects Information System, Index of Species Information
- Utah State University Herbarium, Grass Manual Treatment
- UC CalPhotos gallery of Aristida purpurea (purple threeawn)
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Aristida purpurea |
|
- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Aristida
- Bunchgrasses of North America
- Grasses of Canada
- Grasses of Mexico
- Grasses of the United States
- Native grasses of the Great Plains region
- Native grasses of California
- Native grasses of Oklahoma
- Native grasses of Texas
- Flora of Northeastern Mexico
- Flora of Northwestern Mexico
- Flora of the Northwestern United States
- Flora of the United States
- Flora of the Southwestern United States
- Flora of the South-Central United States
- Flora of the California desert regions
- Flora of the Chihuahuan Desert
- Flora of the Great Basin
- Flora of the Sonoran Deserts
- Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands
- Natural history of the Colorado Desert
- Flora of the Mexican Plateau
- Natural history of the Mojave Desert
- Natural history of the Peninsular Ranges
- Plants described in 1835
- Garden plants of North America
- Drought-tolerant plants