Three-Awn (2)

Red Three-Awn
Aristida purpurea var. longiseta

Family: Grass (Poaceae)
AKA: Purple Three-Awn, Fendler Three-Awn
Photo taken on: September 18, 2011
Location: White Rock, NM
Life Zones: Plains and foothills
Habitat: Dry disturbed soil

Grows to 2ft in clumps with fine stems. Flowers are long, narrow, pointed and reddish-purple with three distinctive sharp  bristles (awns) up to 4" long.

Arizona Three-Awn
Aristida arizonica

Family: Grass (Poaceae)
AKA: Purple Three-Awn
Photo taken on: August 14, 2015
Location: Abiquiu Lake, NM
Life Zones: Plains and foothills
Habitat: Dry, pinyon-juniper woodlands

Grows to 3ft in clumps with dark green leaves which curl with age. Flowers are narrow and pointed with three awns over 1" long.