Aristida purpurascens
| Aristida purpurascens | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Genus: | Aristida |
| Species: | A. purpurascens
|
| Binomial name | |
| Aristida purpurascens | |
Aristida purpurascens is a species of grass known by the common name arrowfeather threeawn. It is native to eastern North America. One of the three varieties has a distribution extending south into Honduras.[1]
Description
[edit]A. purpurascens tolerates moderate shade.[2] It lacks rhizomes. The leaf blades are hairless, pale green, and up to 25 centimeters in length. They may become curly with age.[3] The panicle-shaped inflorescence has branches appressed to the stem, making it narrow. The awns may be up to 2.5 centimeters in length.[1] Individuals tend to be between 0.46 meters to 0.61 meters (1.5 to 2.0 feet) in height.[2] A. purpurascens possesses fibrous roots, which have a nonstructural carbohydrate concentration of 69.5 milligrams and a below-ground to aboveground biomass ration of 0.49.[4]
A. purpurascens is primarily found in dry habitats, including but not limited to: dunes, fields, and pine savannas.[5] Within reestablished longleaf pine woodlands, A. purpurascens may be used as an indicator species due to its ability to regrow in areas previously disturbed by agricultural practices.[6]
This species tends to increase in frequency in response to understory burning, particularly within longleaf pine savannas.[7]
This plant may be grazed when young but as it ages it becomes low in quality and even dangerous for livestock because of the sharp spikelets.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b University, Utah State. "Intermountain Herbarium - College of Arts & Sciences | USU". artsci.usu.edu. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ a b Magee P. (2012). Plant fact sheet: Arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Baton Rouge, LA.
- ^ a b Aristida purpurascens. USDA NRCS Plant Fact Sheet.
- ^ Diaz‐Toribio, Milton H.; Putz, Francis E. (March 2021). "Underground carbohydrate stores and storage organs in fire‐maintained longleaf pine savannas in Florida, USA". American Journal of Botany. 108 (3): 432–442. doi:10.1002/ajb2.1620. ISSN 0002-9122.
- ^ Weakly, A.S. (October 2020). Flora of the Southeastern United States. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- ^ Brudvig, Lars A.; Grman, Emily; Habeck, Christopher W.; Orrock, John L.; Ledvina, Joseph A. (December 2013). "Strong legacy of agricultural land use on soils and understory plant communities in longleaf pine woodlands". Forest Ecology and Management. 310: 944–955. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2013.09.053. ISSN 0378-1127.
- ^ Glitzenstein, Jeff S.; Streng, Donna R.; Masters, Ronald E.; Robertson, Kevin M.; Hermann, Sharon M. (January 2012). "Fire-frequency effects on vegetation in north Florida pinelands: Another look at the long-term Stoddard Fire Research Plots at Tall Timbers Research Station". Forest Ecology and Management. 264: 197–209. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2011.10.014. ISSN 0378-1127.
External links
[edit]- USDA Plants Profile — Aristida purpurascens (arrowfeather threeawn)
- Grass Manual on the Web: Aristida purpurascens — species and varieties treatments.