Plant Guide

Aristida stricta Michx.
pineland threeawn
ARST5

Summary
Duration	Perennial
Growth Habit	Graminoid
U.S. Nativity	Native to U.S.
Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator	FAC-

Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period	Spring
After Harvest Regrowth Rate	Slow
Bloat	None
C:N Ratio
Coppice Potential	No
Fall Conspicuous	No
Fire Resistant	No
Flower Color	Green
Flower Conspicuous	No
Foliage Color	Green
Foliage Porosity Summer	Porous
Foliage Porosity Winter	Porous
Foliage Texture	Fine
Fruit/Seed Color	Yellow
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous	No
Growth Form	Bunch
Growth Rate	Moderate
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet)
Height, Mature (feet)	3.9
Known Allelopath	No
Leaf Retention	No
Lifespan	Short
Low Growing Grass	No
Nitrogen Fixation
Resprout Ability	No
Shape and Orientation	Erect
Toxicity	None

Growth Requirements
Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Fine Textured Soils	No
Adapted to Medium Textured Soils	Yes
Anaerobic Tolerance	None
CaCO3 Tolerance	Low
Cold Stratification Required	No
Drought Tolerance	High
Fertility Requirement	Low
Fire Tolerance	High
Frost Free Days, Minimum	200
Hedge Tolerance	None
Moisture Use	Low
pH, Minimum	4
pH, Maximum	6.5
Planting Density per Acre, Minimum
Planting Density per Acre, Maximum
Precipitation, Minimum	36
Precipitation, Maximum	65
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)	6
Salinity Tolerance	None
Shade Tolerance	Tolerant
Temperature, Minimum (°F)	7

Reproduction
Bloom Period	Fall
Commercial Availability	No Known Source
Fruit/Seed Abundance	Low
Fruit/Seed Period Begin	Fall
Fruit/Seed Period End	Fall
Fruit/Seed Persistence	No
Propagated by Bare Root	No
Propagated by Bulb	No
Propagated by Container	No
Propagated by Corm	No
Propagated by Cuttings	No
Propagated by Seed	Yes
Propagated by Sod	No
Propagated by Sprigs	No
Propagated by Tubers	No
Seed per Pound	500000
Seed Spread Rate	Rapid
Seedling Vigor	Medium
Small Grain	No
Vegetative Spread Rate	None

Suitability/Use
Berry/Nut/Seed Product	No
Christmas Tree Product	No
Fodder Product	No
Fuelwood Product	None
Lumber Product	No
Naval Store Product	No
Nursery Stock Product	No
Palatable Browse Animal	Medium
Palatable Graze Animal	Medium
Palatable Human	No
Post Product	No
Protein Potential
Pulpwood Product	No
Veneer Product	No

Kingdom Plantae -- Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta -- Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants

Class Liliopsida -- Monocotyledons

Subclass Commelinidae

Order Cyperales

Family Poaceae -- Grass family

Genus Aristida L. -- threeawn P

Species Aristida stricta Michx. -- pineland threeawn

Warning: This species may be mechanically injurious to livestock.

Alternate Names

wiregrass

Uses

Cattle graze pineland threeawn in early spring. Spring growth becomes wiry and unpalatable during May and June.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values.

Description

Grass Family (Poaceae). Pineland threeawn is a cool‑season, perennial bunch grass native to the U.S. The height is between 1‑1/2 and 2‑1/2 feet. The leaf blade is mostly basal; 12 to 20 inches long; narrow; rolled inward; wiry; and hairy on upper side at base. The ligule is hairy. The seedhead is a slender panicle 10 to 12 inches long; glumes have 3 awns about 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, one a little longer than other two.

Distribution: For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

Management

This grass increases slowly on areas burned annually and grazed all year. It decreases on areas grazed heavily in early spring and on which grazing is deferred during summer and early fall. Double chopping with heavy rolling cutters in early spring easily reduces it.

Establishment

Pineland threeawn growth starts in January in south Florida and in early March in Georgia and is rapid. The leaf blades usually grow 6 to 8 inches in 4 weeks and the seedheads appear during May and June. Pineland threeawn is a poor seed producer and a low forage producer. It tolerates shade. Occasionally short, thin rhizomes develop on plants that have been burned repeatedly. It grows on well‑drained sands over finer textured subsoil and on sands covered with shallow water for part of the year. It does well on moderate to well‑drained strongly acid soils.

Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Please contact your local NRCS Field Office.

Reference

Leithead, H.L., L.L. Yarlett, & T.N. Shiflett. 1976. 100 native forage grasses in 11 southern states. USDA SCS Agriculture Handbook No. 389, Washington, DC.

Prepared By & Species Coordinator:

Percy Magee

USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Edited: 25june02 ahv; jul03 ahv; 20sep05 jsp; 070112 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS Web site<https://plants.usda.gov> or the Plant Materials Program Web site <https://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov>

Attribution: U.S. Department of Agriculture