Patrick Alexander

Aristida pansa

Three-awns are bunchgrasses that occur in both annual and perennial forms and have three awns on each floret. On Navajo rangelands, the most common perennial three-awn is purple three-awn (Aristida purpurea). Three-awns grow in wastelands and brushlands and are not considered valuable forage species, though they do provide some habitat for birds and other small animals. The awns can tend to catch in the wool or irritate the skin, mouths, or nostrils of livestock.

Many-branched toward the base of the clump, purple three-awn grows to a height of 8 to 16 inches. The leaves are narrow and roll inward. The florets and awns of the inflorescences spread outward, creating a brushy appearance. The florets turn purplish-red.

Three-awn does well on rocky or sandy soils. Presence of the grass may indicate an overgrazed range, but it may also indicate a dry, well-drained soil. It is often found with sagebrush, cheatgrass, needle-and-threadgrass, western wheatgrass, and blue grama. Purple three-awn increases under heavy grazing because it is less palatable than associated grasses. It has excellent drought resistance.

The palatability of this species when green is low to moderate for all livestock. The grass has little value when dry. Although growth begins in the late spring, little forage is produced until the summer rains.

Areas of deep soil supporting extensive stands of red three-awn can be improved through light, winter, or deferred grazing.

Patrick Alexander

Aristida divaricata, poverty three-awn

Patrick Alexander

Aristida divaricata, poverty three-awn

Patrick Alexander

Aristida divaricata, poverty threeawn

Amy Smith Muise

Amy Smith Muise

Scientific Name

Aristida spp.

Plant Type

Grass / Grasslike

Growing Season

Warm Season

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Fleece damage to sheep

For definitions, see the glossary.