Prairie Three-Awn, Triple-Awn Grass

Aristida oliganthus Michx.

Poaceae (Grass Family)

▲ vacant lot with large population of prairie three-awn

▲ dried plant

▲ close-up of inflorescence showing 3 awns per floret

Prairie Three-Awn, Triple-awn Grass: 

·         summer annual, warm-season grass with very thin leaf blades and stems; grows 6-18” tall

·         produces spike-like inflorences with long, very-slender florets standing away from central spike\

·         each floret has 3 long, wirey awns that stand out from its tip

·         awns can irritate grazing animals

·         usually found on dry, low-fertility sites, subsoil sites