Forked Three Awned Grass

Parks Canada

Aristida basiramea

Description

• Can be challenging to identify, this annual plant grows 30 to 50 cm tall. It is branched at the base and grows in tufts or dense clumps.
• Stems are wiry and often rough; the leaves are 5 to 15 cm long and less than 1 mm wide. The “awns” referred to in its name are bristle-like structures attached to the bract (specialized leaf) that encloses the flower of the grass.
• Inconspicuous flowers appear in August and continue into October.
• Seeds are dispersed by wind and animals.

Habitat

• Sand barrens

Threats

• Impacted by cottage/recreation development, extraction of sand, and by all-terrain vehicles.
• Planting of conifers, especially scot’s pine Pinus sylvestris, may out-compete forked three awned grass in some areas.