Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi
Nealley three-awn
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Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi (Nealley three-awn) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family.
Nealley three-awn is a California native perennial found in southern California coastal areas, San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, and desert regions on dry slopes and shrublands at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from March to November, this grass produces light brown inflorescences with delicate, spreading seed clusters. Growing with slender stems 15 to 45 centimeters tall, it forms loose, distinctive clumps with stiff, straight branches. Its leaves are primarily basal, with narrow blades 5 to 20 centimeters long, featuring three distinctive, hair-like awns extending 15 to 30 millimeters from each seed cluster. The plant's seed heads emerge in light brown, airy clusters that wave gracefully in desert and coastal breezes.
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry slopes, plains, shrubland
Elevation: < 2000 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial, Tulare
Outside California: to southern Utah, Oklahoma, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi blooms Mar-Nov.
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. nealleyi native to California?
Yes. Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi bloom?
Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi blooms Mar-Nov.
Where in California does Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi grow?
Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial, Tulare, at elevations of < 2000 m.
What plant family does Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi belong to?
Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi is in the Poaceae family, genus Aristida.
What habitat does Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi grow in?
Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi grows in dry slopes, plains, 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.