ILLINOIS PLANT INFORMATION NETWORK
 
 ILPIN INFORMATION ON    Aristida purpurascens
 
 
 CLASS:    MONOCOTYLEDENAE
 ORDER:    CYPERALES
 FAMILY:   POACEAE
 SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Aristida purpurascens
 AUTHORITY:  Poir.
 
 COMMON NAMES:
    ARROWFEATHER
 
 SYNONOMY:
     Aristida geylriana
 
 PLANTS CODE: ARPU8
 
 NATURAL COMMUNITIES:
     FOREST
       UPLAND FOREST
         DRY
       SAND FOREST
         DRY
     SAVANNA
       SAND SAVANNA
         DRY
       BARREN
         DRY
     PRIMARY
       GLADE
     CULTURAL
       AGRICULTURAL FIELD
       SUCCESSIONAL FIELD
       DEVELOPED LAND
 
 
 SAF FOREST COVER TYPE:
     CENTRAL
        Upland oak
           White/Black/Northern Red-  Oak
     NORTHERN
       Pine and Hemlock
           White pine - N. Red Oak - White Ash
 
 NATURAL DIVISION:  UNAVAILABLE
 
 COUNTIES:
   CASS            COOK            DUPAGE          FULTON          GRUNDY
   IROQUOIS        JACKSON         JO DAVIESS      KANKAKEE        LAKE
   MASON           MENARD          MONROE          MORGAN          OGLE
   POPE            RANDOLPH        ST. CLAIR       SALINE          TAZEWELL
   UNION           WILL
 
 GROWTH FORM:  Monocot
 
 TAXONOMY COMMENTS:
     Steudal's A. geyeriana was originally collected in Illinois.
 
 TAXONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS:
    ROOTS:  Adventitious   (fibrous)
    LEAF ARRANGEMENT:   Alternate
    LEAF TYPE:   Simple
    LEAF MARGIN:   Entire
    LEAF VENATION:  Parallel
    LEAF SHAPE:     Linear
    INFLORESCENCE:   Panicle
    FLOWER MEROUS:  3
    FLOWER STRUCTURE:   Complete
    FLOWER PLACEMENT:  Hypogynous
    FRUIT:   Grain
 
 DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTIC COMMENTS:
     This is the only perennial Aristida in Illinois. First glume is longer
     than the second.
 
 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:
     ORIGIN:   Native
 
 GEOGRAPHIC COMMENTS:
     Species is found throughout state, but is tending to be uncommon in the
     southern counties.
 
 POPULATION DYNAMICS:
     STATE STATUS: Not listed
     FEDERAL STATUS: Not listed
     COMMONNESS:  Occasional
     ENDEMIC:   NOT-ENDEMIC
 
 BIOLOGIC:
     HABIT:   Grasslike
     LIFE CYCLE:   Perennial
     FLOWERING PERIOD:
         MONTH BEGINNING-      8         MONTH END-      9
     TROPHIC STATUS:  Autotrophic
     SEX:      Perfect
 
 ECODISTRIBUTION COMMENTS:
     Species is distributed in sandy soil. It is found in open oak
     or pine-oak, often with sourgum and red maple, woodlands developed
     over acid rock strata of chert sandstone or granite. Sometimes it is
     found on chert, and granite glades; in open sterile ground.
     In northern Illinois, it is found in sand barrens, and at Grand
     beach in Berrien county.
 
 ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS:   No data entered
 
 FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:    No data entered
 HUMAN RELATIONSHIP DATA:    No data entered
 
 WILDLIFE AND LIVESTOCK INFORMATION:
     FOOD VALUE:  No data entered
     COVER VALUE:  No data entered
 
 LIVESTOCK PALATABILITY DATA:
     CATTLE FORAGE: No data    SHEEP FORAGE:  No data    HORSE FORAGE:  No data
     GOAT FORAGE:   No data    ENERGY VALUE:  No data    PROTEIN VALUE: No data
     POISONOUS (LIVESTOCK):     -mechanical injury
 
 LIVESTOCK COMMENTS:
     Awns can be damaging.
 
 REVEGETATION PLANTINGS:    No data entered
 
 
 REFERENCES:
Steyermark, J. A.  1963.  Flora of Missouri.  Iowa State University Press, Ames.
     1725 pp.
Swink, F., and G. S. Wilhelm.  1979.  Plants of the Chicago region.  Third ed.
     The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois.  922 pp.
Mohlenbrock, R. H.  1967-continuing.  The illustrated flora of Illinois.
     Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale.
 
 OTHER REFERENCES:
     Stephens, H.A. 1980. Poisonous Plants of the Central United States.
          Regent Press of Kansas. Lawrence, KA. 165 pp.
 
 END OF DATA FOR SPECIES  Aristida purpurascens
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ILPIN was developed by Louis Iverson*, with data compiled by David Ketzner and Jeanne Karnes
 Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL 61820
     *currently employed by USDA Forest Service, 359 Main Rd., Delaware, OH 43015