Aristida oligantha Michx.

Prairie Three Awn; Oldfield Three Awn

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Prairie Three Awn is a native herbaceous annual in the Grass family (Poaceae). It can be found throughout much of Alabama. Prairie Three Awn occurs in dry, often sandy habitats such as on roadsides, in old fields, in pine woodlands, and in disturbed habitats. It is an annual with a fibrous root system. It grows 10-20 inches in height from highly branched culms. The culms are often geniculate (bent at a sharp angle) at the base. Leaves are cauline, alternate, linear, with entire margins. The leaves have a sheath that is shorter than the internodes and is glabrous. The leaf blades are often folded and twisted. Flowers are produced in spikes or racemes. Spikelets are 14-18 mm long with three awns. The awns are approximately equal in length (5-10 mm) and spreading. The fruit is a grain. Prairie Three Awn is a common but easily over looked species. It has the largest fruit with the longest awns of any of our Tree Awn species. It is an excellent subject to use when demonstrating the parts of a grass flower/fruit because of its size.--A. Diamond

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Native G5 (Global Rank)

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