Scientific Name:
TRIDENS FLAUUS
Common Name:
PURPLETOP
Erosion Index:
EXCELLENT
Erosion Index Value:
8.1
Wildlife Index:
GOOD
Wildlife Index Value:
5.13
Ecological Distribution:
PINEYWOODS, GULF PRAIRIES AND MARSHES, POST OAK SAVANNAH, BLACKLAND
PRAIRIES, CROSS TIMBERS AND PRAIRIES, EDWARDS PLATEAU, ROLLING PLAINS,
HIGH PLAINS
Topographic Tolerance:
UPLAND, BOTTOMLAND
Elevation Tolerance:
SEA LEVEL - 2000'
Slope Tolerance:
LEVEL TO GENTLY SLOPING
Aspect Tolerance:
TOLERANT ACROSS RANGE
Light Tolerance:
, TOLERANT TO FULL SHADE, TOLERANT TO SUN-SHADE MIX
Wetland Regional Indicator:
FACULTATIVE UPLAND
Physical Form:
GRASS
Habit:
OTHER
Life Cycle:
PERENNIAL
Seed Age:
1 TO 4 YEARS OLD
Seed Interval:
1 YEAR OR LESS
Growth:
TUFTED BUNCHGRASS
Hardiness:
DROUGHT INTOLERANT, GRAZING TOLERANT
Vegetative Growth Period:
APR, MAY, JUN, JUL
Flowering Period:
JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV
Fruiting Period:
JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV
Soil Moisture:
WITHSTANDS SHORT-DURATION SATURATION
Soil Texture:
TOLERANT TO SANDY SOILS
Soil Fertility:
HIGH SOIL FERTILITY
Parent Material:
TOLERANT OVER WIDE RANGE
Soil pH:
SLIGHTLY ACIDIC, NEUTRAL, SLIGHTLY ALKALINE
Optimum pH:
UNKNOWN
Soil Depth:
MODERATELY DEEP SOIL (12 - 36 IN.)
Salinity:
OBLIGATE TO NON-SALINE (FRESH) SOIL/WATER CONDITIONS
Short-term Biomass:
MEDIUM
Short-term Pest:
NONE KNOWN
Long-term Biomass:
MEDIUM
Long-term Pest:
NONE KNOWN
Dominance Characteristics:
COMPONENT
Honeybee Relations:
POLLINATED WITHOUT BEES, NOT HONEY PRODUCING
Parasite Host Potential:
UNKNOWN
Food for Wildlife/Livestock:
SMALL MAMMALS, LARGE MAMMALS, UPLAND GAME BIRDS, NONGAME BIRDS
Small Mammal Food:
FAIR
Large Mammal Food:
FAIR
Upland Game Birds Food:
FAIR
Waterfowl Food:
UNKNOWN
Nongame Birds Food:
FAIR
Small Mammal Cover:
GOOD
Large Mammal Cover:
GOOD
Upland Game Birds Cover:
GOOD
Waterfowl Cover:
UNKNOWN
Nongame Birds Cover:
GOOD
Toxicity Potential:
UNKNOWN
Toxicity Season:
Effectiveness Period:
SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM
Raindrop Impact:
MEDIUM
Erosion Hardiness:
HIGH
Ease of Propagation:
HIGH
Soil Binding:
MEDIUM
Soil Enrichment Potential:
UNKNOWN
Nitrogen Fixation Potential:
LOW
Growth Inhibitor Production:
UNKNOWN
Source Availability:
SPECIALIZED COMMERCIAL OR WHOLESALE OUTLET, HARVEST FROM LOCAL WILD STOCK
Seed Germination Ratio:
UNKNOWN
Reproduction:
SEEDS, RHIZOMES, TILLERS
Seed Dispersal Success Potential:
GRAVITY
Seed Establishment Success Potential:
HIGH
Cuttings Establishment Success Potential:
LOW
Transplanting Establishment Success Potential:
UNKNOWN
Establishment Time Interval:
1 TO 2 YEARS
Recommended Establishment:
SEEDS
Relative Expense:
MODERATELY EXPENSIVE
Notes:
- Resembles Johnstongrass, but the seed head produces a sticky, oily
juice that collects dirt which makes the seed appear dark colored (thus,
the common names purpletop and greasegrass)
- Particularly associated with wooded areas, and is adapted to both
bottomland and upland sites.
Associated Species:
BLACK
HICKORY
BLACKBERRY/DEWBERRY,
SPP.
BLACKJACK
OAK
BLUESTEM SPP.
BROWNSEED
PASPALUM
BUNDLEFLOWER,
ILLINOIS
BUSHCLOVER
SPP.
EASTERN RED CEDAR
ELBOWBUSH
ELM SPP.
GREENBRIAR
SPP.
INDIANGRASS,
YELLOW
LOBLOLLY
PINE
PARTRIDGE PEA
POST
OAK
ROUNDHEAD
LESPEDEZA
SAND
LOVEGRASS
SHORTLEAF
PINE
SLENDER
LESPEDEZA
SOUTHERN RED
OAK
SWITCHGRASS
TICKCLOVER
WILDRYE,
CANADA
WILDRYE,
VIRGINIA
YAUPON