Aristida basiramea Engelm. Forktip Threeawn Habit: Annual. Culms: Freely branching at the base, sparingly so above, 30-50 cm. tall. Blades: Flat, 5-15 cm. long, 1.5 mm. wide. Ligule: Small, hairy. Inflorescence: Panicles terminal and axillary, terminal 5-10 cm. long, with erect branches, the axillary mostly included in the sheaths. Spikelets: 1-flowered, narrow, rachilla disarticulating obliquely above the glumes. Glumes: Acuminate, the first 8-10 mm. long, the second 12-14 mm. long, membranous, persistent, keeled, awnless, usually longer than the lemma. Lemmas: Without the awn about 1 cm. long, firm, narrow, rigid, strongly convolute, with a prominent callus at the base, 3-awned at the apex, central awn coiled, 10-15 mm. long, the lateral awns half to two thirds as long, somewhat spreading. Palea: Thin, included within the lemma. Habitat: Dry prairies, barren or sandy soil. August-September. Kansas Range: East half.