Aristida purpurea var. fendleriana
Fendler three-awn
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Aristida purpurea var. fendleriana (Fendler three-awn) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family.
Fendler three-awn is a native perennial grass found in the San Bernardo Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, eastern Sierra Nevada, and eastern Mojave Desert on dry, rocky slopes and in shrublands at elevations of 1,000 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from April to October, this grass produces purple-tinted spikelets with distinctive long, thin awns extending 18 to 40 millimeters. Growing with slender stems up to 15 centimeters tall, it forms clumps with stiff, straight inflorescence branches. Its leaves are primarily basal, with blades generally 4 to 10 centimeters long, creating a delicate, sparse appearance. The grass is characterized by its striking awns, which are approximately 0.2 to 0.3 millimeters wide at the base and give the plant a feathery, ethereal quality.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, rocky slopes, shrubland
Elevation: 1000-1800 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, San Diego, Mono
Outside California: to Montana, Great Plains, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Aristida purpurea var. fendleriana blooms Apr-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Muhlenbergia: Aristida always has three awns per seed; Muhlenbergia has one awn or none.; vs Hilaria: Aristida has three awns on each spikelet; Hilaria has spikelets grouped in threes with single awns.; vs Bromus: Aristida's three thin straight awns are unmistakable; Bromus has single awns and papery seed coverings.; vs Schismus: Aristida has three long awns per seed; Schismus is a tiny annual with no awns at all.; vs Stipa: Aristida has three straight awns; Stipa has one twisted, bent awn.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aristida purpurea var. fendleriana native to California?
Yes. Aristida purpurea var. fendleriana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Aristida purpurea var. fendleriana bloom?
Aristida purpurea var. fendleriana blooms Apr-Oct.
Where in California does Aristida purpurea var. fendleriana grow?
Aristida purpurea var. fendleriana occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, San Diego, Mono, at elevations of 1000-1800 m.
What plant family does Aristida purpurea var. fendleriana belong to?
Aristida purpurea var. fendleriana is in the Poaceae family, genus Aristida.
What habitat does Aristida purpurea var. fendleriana grow in?
Aristida purpurea var. fendleriana grows in Dry, rocky slopes, shrubland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.