Aristida californica is a species of grass known by the common names California threeawn and Mojave threeawn. It is native to the Mojave Deserts and Sonoran of northern Mexico and California and Arizona. Aristida californica is a clumpy, hairy grass forming bushy tufts up to about 40 centimeters tall in its sandy habitat. The inflorescence contains hard spikelets with a long beak at the tip and awns up to 4. 5 centimeters long. Aristida californica is a clumpy, hairy grass forming bushy tufts up to about 40 centimeters tall in its sandy habitat. The inflorescence contains hard spikelets with a long beak at the tip and awns up to 4. 5 centimeters long.