Tall Redtop

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; not in 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)