Aristida purpurascens

Aristida purpurascens can be distinguished from A. purpurea by its by glumes which are usually unequal, the first is 6-10 mm long and the second is 5-8 mm long. The lemma is 6-8 mm long. The awns are 1.5-2.5 cm long, all about equally divergent and the same thickness at their base. It can also be distinguished from A purpurea by its erect, unbranched inflorescence, and 1.5-2.5 cm long awns, while A. purpurea has a lax, arched, branched and leafy inflorescence and awns that are 2.4-5.6 cm long. Two annual species of Aristida, A. oligantha and A. longespica, occur in disturbed prairie. Aristida oligantha has lemma awns that are 4-7 cm long and nearly equal in length while A. longespica has lemma awns shorter than 3 cm and unequal in length.

Seeds average approximately 789,000/lb.

The following information for the genus Aristida: Animals that eat its seeds: Pine-woods sparrows, white-footed mouse. Animals that eat the plant: Jack rabbit, white-footed mouse, white-tailed deer (Martin et al. 1951). It is an undesirable range plant and is considered an invader that will increase because of disturbance, given an opportunity. Poor forage.

The specific name of this species, purpurascens, results from a purplish cast the plant has when mature. It grows best on sandy soils through the U.S. It is considered undesirable by rangeland managers and is an increaser under excessive grazing or mowin

Sandy woods and openings.