Tridentopsis mutica

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Tridens muticus - slim tridens - Flickr - Matt Lavin (1).jpg

|status = G5

|status_system = TNC

|status_ref =

|genus = Tridentopsis (plant)

|species = mutica

|authority = (Torr.) P.M.Peterson

|synonyms =

  • Sieglingia mutica {{small|(Torr.) Kuntze}}
  • Sieglingia trinerviglumis {{small|Kuntze, nom. nud.}}
  • Tricuspis mutica {{small|Torr. (1857)}} (basionym)
  • Tricuspis pilosa {{small|A.Heller}}
  • Tricuspis trinerviglumis {{small|Munro ex A.Gray, nom. nud.}}
  • Tridens muticus {{small|(Torr.) Nash}}
  • Triodia mutica {{small|(Torr.) Scribn.}}
  • Triodia trinerviglumis {{small|Benth. ex Vasey, nom. nud.}}
  • Tridens muticus f. effusus {{small|M.C.Johnst.}}
  • Tridens pilosus {{small|(A.Heller) Hitchc.}}
  • Uralepis pilosa {{small|Buckley, nom. illeg.}}

|synonyms_ref = {{cite web |title=Tridentopsis mutica (Torr.) P.M.Peterson |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77138756-1 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=10 June 2025}}

}}

File:Tridens_muticus_-_slim_tridens.jpg

Tridentopsis mutica is a New World species of grass known by the common name slim tridens.{{PLANTS|id=TRMU|taxon=Tridens muticus|accessdate=15 December 2015}}

Description

It is a perennial grass forming a thick tuft with a knotted base and rhizome. It reaches a maximum height of {{Convert|50 to 80|cm}}. The panicle has short branches appressed to the others, making the inflorescence narrow. The florets are generally purple in color.

This plant uses C4 carbon fixation as its method of energy metabolism.[http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/graminoid/trimut/all.html Forest Service Fire Ecology]

Distribution and habitat

It is native to northern Mexico and the southwestern and south-central United States.

It grows in several types of habitat, including plateau and desert, woodlands, sagebrush, plains, and other areas with dry sandy and clay soils.

References

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