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Wright's threeawn
Scientific Name: Aristida purpurea var. wrightii
Family: Poaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth: Graminoid
Duration: Annual, Perennial
Other Names:
Wright Three-awn (Aristida wrightii)
Wright three-awn, also known as Wright's threeawn, is a native grass found in North America. It is characterized by its three awns stemming from a tufted seedhead.
Considerations for Pets
- This grass produces seedheads with three awns that measure 5/8 to 1 1/8 inches long.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Aristida wrightii
- Common Names: Wright three-awn, Wright's threeawn, purple three-awn, purple three-awn, purple 3-awn, red threeawn
- Family: Poaceae (Grass Family)
- Rank: Variety
- Synonyms: Aristida purpurea Nutt. var. wrightii (Nash) Allred
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to North America, specifically southern California east to Oklahoma and south.
- Found in sandy ecological sites in south Texas.
- Often found in dry woods.
Ecological Role
- An early successional invader plant.
- Capable of increasing on rangelands.
- Can replace climax dominant species like sideoats grama under certain conditions.
Morphological Characteristics
- Erect, densely tufted bunchgrass that does not branch at the nodes.
- Height ranges from 10 to 30 inches (approximately 25-76 cm).
- Leaf blade is rolled.
- Culms are 45-100 cm tall.
- Blades are 10-25 cm long, involute or flat.
- Panicles are (12)14-30 cm long with primary branches that are usually erect and stiff.
Use
- Grazed readily early in the spring.
- Provides poor grazing for wildlife and fair grazing for livestock.
- May provide nesting habitat for some wildlife.
Further Information
- USDA Plants Database Profile