Aristida ramosa

Aristida ramosa, commonly known as purple wiregrass, is a tufted perennial grass in the Poaceae family. Plants grow 37–120 cm tall with smooth internodes and narrow, often inrolled leaves. The inflorescence is a loose to contracted panicle 8–27 cm long bearing single-flowered spikelets characterised by three rigid, divergent awns at the apex of each lemma — a diagnostic feature of the genus Aristida. Flowering and fruiting occur year-round depending on rainfall. The species is widespread across eastern and western Australia, occurring on a range of soils in bluegrass downs, brigalow lands and eucalyptus woodlands. Like other wiregrasses it is regarded by graziers as poor forage once mature because the sharp, awned seeds can injure livestock and lodge in wool or hides.