Purpletop

Plant Profile
FYUSE 3D Image	Common Name: Purpletop Other Names: Greasegrass Species Name: Tridens flavus Plant Type: Grasses & Grass-like Family Name: Poaceae, Grass Family Tribe: Eragrostideae, Lovegrass Family

Plant Facts
Origin	Native
Duration	Perennial
Season	Warm
Distribution in the U.S.	Eastern half of the country but not the extreme north
Distribution in Oklahoma	Eastern two-thirds of the state

ID Characteristics

Field Identification Characteristics
Vegetative
- Stems flatten and widen at base
- Coarse, dark green foliage
Floral
- Seed heads are dark purple
- Seed heads are oily to the touch; “Greasegrass”
- Single seed head per branch
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
- Plant Height: 60-150 centimeters
- Ligule Type: Ciliate to ciliate membranous
- Sheath: Glabrous
- Leaves: Basal and cauline
Floral Characteristics
- Inflorescence Type: Panicles
- Florets Per Spikelet: 3-6
- Glumes: Unequal

Habitat/Ecology
Soil Type	Various
Habitat	Rocky, uplands to bottomlands
Successional Stage	Mid