Poir.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.133661
Element CodePMPOA0K0V0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyPoaceae
GenusAristida
SynonymsAristida purpurascens var. purpurascens
Other Common NamesAristide pourprée de l'Est (FR) arrowfeather threeawn (EN) Arrowfeather Three-awn (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic CommentsSome floras, including Weakley's 2000 draft, treat A. virgata (=A. purpurascens var. virgata) and A. tenuispica (=A. purpurascens var. tenuispica) as distinct species. In those treatments, A. purpurascens has a much narrower circumscription and distribution than in Kartesz (1999).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-08-09
Change Date1984-02-09
Edition Date2024-08-09
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsAristida purpurascens is a perennial grass occurring in waste places, glades, fields, prairies, savannas, pinelands, pine and oak woods, roadsides, and wet or moist areas in sandy or clay soils of eastern North America from Ontario, Canada, to New York and Massachusetts, south to Florida, west to Texas, and north to Nebraska and Wisconsin in the United States, as well as south into Mexico and Honduras. There are over 500 estimated occurrences of this species, which are threatened by development, recreation (off-road vehicles), succession, invasive species, rights of-way construction and maintenance, and likely other threats in some places. With a large range extent, high number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsAristida purpurascens occurs in eastern North America from Ontario, Canada, and New York and Massachusetts south to Florida, west to Texas, and north to Nebraska and Wisconsin in the United States (FNA 2003). This species' range also extends into northern Mexico and Honduras. Range extent was estimated to be over 5 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024). See individual entries for distribution details about the three varieties.
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, there are estimated to be over 500 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, Aristida purpurascens is threatened by development, recreation (off-road vehicles), succession, invasive species, rights of-way construction and maintenance, and likely other threats in some places (NatureServe 2024). However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.