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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)

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