Purplish Aristida Grass
Purplish Aristida. Aristida purpurascens Poir.Perennial.
Stem 1-3 ft. tall, slender, erect. Ligule very short. Leaves long and narrow, sometimes involute, 4'-10' long, about 1" wide.
Spike-like Panicle 6'-18' long, slender. Spikelets 1-flowered, 3"-5" long, narrow, purplish. Scales 3, narrow; outer scales unequal; flowering scale bearing 3 awns, middle awn horizontal, about 1' long, lateral awns slightly shorter, erect or spreading. Stamens 3.
Dry and sandy soil, and in dry woods. August to October.
Massachusetts to Minnesota, south to Florida and Texas.