Aristida adscensionis L.
Triple-awned grass
Family: Poaceae
Habit: Annual 1 to 8 dm. branched at base, purplish tinge, erect or spreading.
Distribution: Dry open rocky sites and in shrubland. San Luis Obispo County to the deserts. Also in Texas, Kansas and Argentina.
Seed unit: Spikelet with caryopsis.
Seed: Lower glume 5 to 7 mm., upper 8 to 10 mm.; lemma 6 to 13 mm.; 3 awns, 7 to 23 mm., equal length. Tip is often beaked.
Embryo: Basal-lateral embryo area of seed caryopsis.
Purity instructions: Pure seed definition:
AOSA: PSU #13 - Single floret spikelet or floret with or without awns, provided a caryopsis with some degree of endosperm development can be detected. Caryopsis or piece of broken caryopsis larger than one-half of the original size.
Lab notes: Seeds often look like sticks and are attached to stems. Many florets are without substance.
Average pure seed units per gram: 1352 seeds per gram (based on AOSA pure seed units only from seven (7) samples received for testing from 1993 to 2003).
Range of percent pure seed: 10% to 53%
Range of percent inert: 44% to 88%
Description of inert: Plant material, chaff, broken seed, dirt, sticks.
Planting instructions: 400 seeds, TB, 21 days at 15-25°C; for fresh and dormant seed, prechill and GA3 recommended.
References: (link to main reference page)
Hickman, J.C., Ed. 1993. p. 1234.
Munz, P.A. and D.D. Keck. 1968. p. 1535.
Ransom Seed Laboratory
