Six Week Three Awn
Aristida adscensionis
Observed on 04 March 2009 near First Water Trailhead, Superstition Wilderness, Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA.
ANNUAL: Normally a delicate annual grass. With exceptional soil and
water conditions plants might reach 50 cm
tall. Several stems arise from the shallow root system. In the Sonoran Desert
this grass appears in spring after winter rains and occasionally after summer
rains in September and October.
INFLORESCENCE: The small, narrow spikes have a slight reddish-maroon
color. The three awns per spikelet are not sharp and penetrating like the brome
grasses.
LEAVES: Blades are less than 10 cm long and frequently have the margins
curled.
RANGE: This is a common native grass on rocky slopes and wash banks in
the Sonoran Desert where it is not crowded out by the exotics
Red Brome Grass (Bromus rubens) or
Mediterranean Grass (Schismus barbatus).
FRUIT: The grains are small.
UNARMED
Poaceae -- Grass Family
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This plant is growing from a crevice in colorful volcanic tuff near Apache Junction, Arizona. March 2009.