Syn. Pl. Glum. 1: 3 (1854).- Type: Jardin s.n., Guinea (holo- P, iso BAA).
Oryza glaberrima var. longiglumis A. Chev., Rev. Bot. Appl. Agric. Trop. 12: 1026 (1932) nom. nud.
Regional litterature: FWTA: 367 (1972); Ghana grasses: 194 (1977); Gram. Togo: 263, fig.(1983); Gram. Cameroun: 54 (1992); Poicelot, Poac. CI: 86, fig. (1995); Poac. Niger: 108 (1999); Fl. Bénin: 222 (2006) ; Pl. Vasc. Guiné-Bissau: 170 (2006); Fl. Guinea Bissau: 139 (2008); Fl. Guinée: 467 (2009); Pl. Burkina Faso: 99 (2012); Fl. Chad (2013).
Description:
* Dense erect annual bunchgrass with spongy culms of 0.2-1 m, but some varieties 4-5 m long. Leaves linear, slightly scabrid on the upper surface and glabrous on the lower, 20-25 cm long and 6-9 mm broad, the margins sharply scabrid; base narrowed; ligule a rounded membrane of 4 mm long; sheath glabrous, often slightly keeled towards the apex. Roots vigorous and robust.
* Inflorescence a long, fairly narrow panicle of 20-25 cm long with ascending branches but drooping at maturity; spikelets persistent.
* Spikelets elliptical, acuminate, generally awnless, 8-9 mm long and 4 mm broad, some varieties smaller. Two sterile lemmas at the base, separated from the upper fertile lemma by a stipe; fertile lemma lanceolate, smooth, glabrous, 5-6 mm long with some hairs at the tip. Grains reddish, 5-6 mm long.
Distribution West Africa and world-wide: Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Cameroon and Chad.