Tall Redtop, Purpletop, Greasegrass
Tridens flavus (L.) A.S. Hitchc.
Poaceae (Grass Family)
▲▼ stems, leaves
▲▼ inflorescences
▲▼ inflorescence details
▲ collar region
Tall Redtop or Purpletop or Greasegrass: (not in Weeds of the Great Plains, nor Weeds of the Northeast)
· perennial, cool-season grass, 2-4' tall
· produces drooping panicles of reddish to deep purple florets
· panicles smaller, more droopy than johnsongrass, and leaves are narrower than johnsongrass
· increases in over-grazed pastures due to low palatability of stems
· broken stems sticky, inflorescences sometimes slick (reason for other name- grease grass)