Aristida purpurea

This is a perennial bunchgrass, growing erect to under a meter in height, and the flower glumes often assumes a light brown to reddish-purple color. There are several varieties with overlapping geographical ranges. This is not considered to be a good graze for livestock because the awns are sharp and the protein content of the grass is low. The leaves are narrow and roll inward. The florets and awns of the inflorescences spread outward, creating a brushy appearance. The florets turn purplish-red. The awns can tend to catch in the wool or irritate the skin, mouths, or nostrils of livestock.