Prairie Three

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