SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 2772.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "2772" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

California threeawn

Scientific Name: Aristida californica var. californica

Family: Poaceae

Category: Monocot

Growth: Graminoid

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Aristida californica: California Threeawn

Aristida californica, commonly known as California threeawn or Mojave threeawn, is a perennial grass species native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.

Considerations for Pets

  • This grass species is noted for having three awns (bristles).

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Aristida californica Thurb. ex S. Watson
  • Common Names: California threeawn, Mojave threeawn
  • Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
  • Taxonomic Rank: Species
  • Synonyms/Varieties:
    • Aristida californica Thurb. ex S. Watson var. californica (Smooth California Three-awn, tres barbas de California)
    • Aristida californica v.glabrata (Smooth California Three-awn, tres barbas de California)
    • Aristida purpurea (While not a direct synonym, it is mentioned as a similar species often used in landscaping)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts.
  • Found in Arizona (AZ) and California (CA) in the USA.
  • Also found southward into Sonora and Baja California.
  • Prefers dry, sandy soil and tolerates full sun to part shade.
  • Habitat includes sandy areas and sand dunes.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Graminoid plant type.
  • Perennial grass, meaning it lives for more than two years.
  • Drought-tolerant bunchgrass.
  • Forms tall, pure stands (20-30 inches high) in some areas.

Ecological Role

  • Native grasslands in California are considered among the most endangered.
  • Purple Three-Awn (Aristida purpurea) is suggested as a native alternative to fight invasive species in southwestern California.

Quirky Facts

  • The genus name Aristida is derived from the fact that the plant is "distinguished by having three awns (bristles) on each lemma."
  • The common name "tres barbas de California" is Spanish for "three beards of California," referring to the three awns.

Further Information

  • Discover Life: Provides biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution information.
  • NatureServe: natureserve.org
  • Flickr Photos: flickr.com
  • Theodore Payne Foundation: Offers information on California native plants.
  • USDA PLANTS Database: Contains distributional maps and plant information.
  • British Database of World Flora and Fauna: Provides taxonomic information.