FTA 9: 486 (1919).- Type: Ansell s.n., Nigeria, Lokoja (holo K).
Urochloa paniculata Benth. in Hook., Niger Fl.: 558 (1849);
Axonopus paniculata (Benth.) A. Chev., Sudania 1: 22 (1911);
Echinochloa paniculata (Benth.) Roberty, Bull. I.F.A.N. Sér. A, 17: 67 (1955).
Regional litterature: Fl. Agrost. Congo Belge 2 : 60 (1934) ; FWTA: 449 (1972); Ghana grasses: 89 (1977); FTEA : 619 (1982) ; Fl. Senegal 10: 46, fig 18, 19 (1991, unpubl.); Gram. Cameroun: 258 (1992); Poac. CI: 418, fig. (1995); Fl. Bénin: 176, fig. (2006); Pl. Vasc. Guiné-Bissau: 161 (2006); Fl. Guinea Bissau: 133 (2008); Fl. Guinée: 447 (2009); Fl. Chad (2013).
Description:
* Annual bunchgrass glabrous to moderately hairy, of 0.6 -1.2 m tall. Culms decumbent or geniculately ascending, branched, sometimes rooting at lower nodes. Leaves lanceolate, 4-15 cm long and 0.8-2 cm large, base broadly rounded, margins cartilaginous and crispy wavy; ligule a fringe of hairs; sheath pubescent near the tip.
* Inflorescence paniculiforme, composed of 10-20 racemes, whorled, along a common axis of 7-8 cm long. Racemes unilateral, slender, reddish-purple, weak, 9-20 cm long; rachis angular. Spikelets packed irregularly, pedicelled.
* Spikelets elliptic, 3.5-4.5 mm long, acuminate. Lower glume ovate, 1/3-½ as long as spikelet, membranous, acuminate; upper glume ovate, as long as spikelet, acute or acuminate with awn up of to 1 mm, membranous; margins ciliate with hairs of 0.5 mm. Lower lemma ovate, as long as spikelet, membranous, acuminate; upper lemma oblong, 3-3.5 mm long, chartaceous, apex acuminate with an awn of 2.5-7 mm.
Distribution West Africa: Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, CAR, Chad.
Distribution world-wide: Ethiopia, Uganda, DRC, Congo and Burundi, Tanzania and southern Africa, tropical Asia and Australia.