About Aristida purpurascens Poir.
Aristida purpurascens Poir. tolerates moderate shade. It does not have rhizomes, and has fibrous roots. The nonstructural carbohydrate concentration in its roots is 69.5 milligrams, and its below-ground to above-ground biomass ratio is 0.49. Mature plants stand between 0.46 meters and 0.61 meters (1.5 to 2.0 feet) tall. Its leaf blades are hairless, pale green, and can grow up to 25 centimeters in length, and they often become curly as they age. The inflorescence is panicle-shaped, with branches pressed close to the stem that give it a narrow shape. Its awns can reach up to 2.5 centimeters in length. This species grows primarily in dry habitats, including dunes, fields, and pine savannas. In reestablished longleaf pine woodlands, Aristida purpurascens can be used as an indicator species, because it is able to regrow in areas that were previously disturbed by agricultural activity. Its frequency tends to increase when understory burning occurs, especially in longleaf pine savannas. Young Aristida purpurascens can be grazed by livestock, but as the plant ages, it becomes low-quality forage and can even be dangerous to livestock due to its sharp spikelets.
