Tridens flavus

Tridens flavus, known as purpletop, purpletop tridens, tall redtop, greasy grass, and grease grass,[1][2][3] is a large, robust perennial bunchgrass native to eastern North America.

Tridens flavus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Tridens
Species:
T. flavus
Binomial name
Tridens flavus

It widespread throughout its range and is most often found in man-made habitats, such as hay meadows and lawns.

The seeds are purple, giving the grass its common name. The seeds are also oily, leading to its other common name, "grease grass". It reproduces by seed and tillers.

The grass is often confused with the similar looking Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense), although it is only distantly related. Tridens flavus is easily distinguished by its short, hairy ligule.

It is a larval host to the common wood nymph, crossline skipper, little glassywing, and the Zabulon skipper.[4]

  • Individual florets and spikelet
    Individual florets and spikelet

References
  1. "FSUS- Tridens flavus". fsus.ncbg.unc.edu. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  2. "NameThatPlant.net: Tridens flavus". www.namethatplant.net. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  3. "Tridens flavus | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  4. The Xerces Society (2016), Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects, Timber Press.
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