Aristida sp.
Three-awn, Three-Awn
(c) Alan Manson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alan Manson · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Perennial · Variable; species dependent
Aristida sp. (Three-awn) is a non-native California perennial in the Poaceae family.
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 sp. native to California?
No. Aristida sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Aristida sp. belong to?
Aristida sp. is in the Poaceae family, genus Aristida.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Aristida ternipes var. gentilis — Hook three-awn
- Aristida adscensionis — Sixweeks three-awn
- Aristida californica — California three-awn
- Aristida dichotoma — Churchmouse three-awn
- Aristida divaricata — Poverty three-awn
- Aristida oligantha — Oldfield three-awn
- Arrhenatherum elatius — Tall oat grass
- Arrhenatherum sp. — Oat grass
- Arundo donax — Giant reed
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.