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Arizona threeawn

Scientific Name: Aristida arizonica

Family: Poaceae

Category: Monocot

Growth: Graminoid

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Arizona Three-awn Grass (Aristida arizonica)

Arizona Three-awn, scientifically known as Aristida arizonica, is a native grass species found in the southwestern United States. This page provides information about its characteristics, distribution, and ecological role.

Considerations for Pets

  • This is a grass species, which might be attractive to grazing animals.
  • The plant produces seeds that may be dispersed by wind or animals.

Considerations for Children

  • This is a grass species, which might be attractive to children playing outdoors.
  • The plant produces seeds that may be dispersed by wind or animals.

Common Names

  • Arizona Three-awn Grass
  • Purple Three-awn
  • Purple 3-awn
  • Red Threeawn

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Aristida arizonica Vasey
  • Family: Poaceae (Grass Family)
  • Genus: Aristida L.
  • Status: Native
  • Synonyms: None are explicitly mentioned.
  • Taxonomic Rank: Species, Subspecies

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, and Utah.
  • Found at elevations ranging from 1000 to 5000 feet.
  • Also found in the Grand Canyon and Abiquiu Lake, NM.

Ecological Role

  • Early successional species.
  • Used to stop erosion.
  • Important forage species for grazing animals on grassland sites.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Grows to be between 14 and 31 inches in height.
  • Perennial grass with a closed panicle and branches.
  • Graminoid with green foliage and yellow flowers.
  • Reproduces from both seeds and tillers.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Associated herbaceous species include black dropseed (Sporobolus interruptus).
  • Warm season grasses such as blue grama, little bluestem, spike muhly, and Arizona three-awn were the principal forage species consumed on grassland sites.

Quirky Facts

  • Repeat photography in the Grand Canyon has shown that related species can live for extended periods.

Further Information

  • Discover Life: Discover Life
  • Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1950. Manual of the grasses of the United States. Washington, DC.
  • Intermountain Herbarium
  • Bureau of Land Management's Arizona collecting team (Seeds of Success program)