FTA 9: 93 (1917).- Type : Chevalier 8251, CAR (syn- P); Chevalier 716, Mali (syn- P); Barter 1351, Nigeria (syn- K).
Saccharum brachypogon Stapf, Mém. Soc. Bot. Fr. 8: 97 (1908).
Regional litterature: FI. Nigeria: 92 (1970); FWTA: 466 (1972); Ghana grasses: (1977); FTEA: 707, fig. (1992); Gram. Cameroun: 392, fig. 86 (1992); Poac. CI : 476, fig. (1985); Fl. Zambesiaca: 6, fig. (2002); Fl. Bénin: 207(2006)
Description:
* Erect perennial bunchgrass of up to 0.9 -1.2 m tall. Culm-nodes conspicuously bearded with whitish hairs. Leaves basal, long-linear, 7-45 cm long and 1-3 mm wide, sometimes hairy; base narrow and passing straight into the sheath; ligule an eciliate membrane; sheath hairy.
* Inflorescence a fulvous panicle of 4-14 cm long with 4-16 short contracted racemes, irregularly along the central axis. Racemes linear to oblong, 2-4 cm long; rhachis fragile, ciliate with red hairs; internodes and pedicels linear, ciliate.
* Sessile spikelets elliptic, 3.5-4.5 mm long; callus bearded, base truncate with red hairs, 0.3-0.5 length of spikelet. Lower glume elliptic, coriaceous, shining,flat, margins ciliate, apex 3 -fid, nerves obscure; upper glume elliptic, coriaceous, margins ciliate, acute. Lower lemma lanceolate; upper lemma ovate, 1.5 mm long, hyaline, margins ciliate. Pedicelled spikelet similar, 3-4 mm long, covered by hairs.
Distribution West Africa: Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, CAR.
Distribution world-wide: Gabon, Congo, DRC, Ethiopia, Uganda, and E and southern Africa.