Aristida gyrans Chapm.

Corkscrew Threeawn

Natural range: Southeastern U.S.

Habitat: Scrub, dry pine woods

Florida status: Native

Recognition: Blades involute at middle and below (vs. at tips only), glabrous at the collar (vs. A. stricta). Awns to 15 mm, twisted, glumes not of similar length (vs. equal in A. stricta).

Aristida purpurascens var. tenuispica has contorted awns too, but flat leaves, glumes of similar length, and there is pubescence at the bases of leaves.

Also with contorted awns, A. rhizomophora has long awns to 25 mm (vs. < 15 mm) on the glumes as well as on the lemmas.