J. Agric. Trop. 13: 44 (1966).- Type: Audru 1311, Chad (holo- P, iso- ALF, K).
Ischaemum hirsutum Peter, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 40(1 Anh.): 115 (1936), nom. illeg., non I. hirsutum Spreng. (1825).
Regional litterature: Fl. Nigeria: 101 (1970); FWTA: 476 (1972); Ghana grasses: 168, fig. 49 (1977); FTEA : 747 (1982); Gram. Togo: 237, fig. (1983); Gram. Cameroun: 418 (1992); Fl. Bénin: 213 (1992); Poac. CI : 510, fig. (1995); Pl. Burkina Faso: 93 (2012); Fl. Chad (2013).
Description:
* Robust perennial bunchgrass, 1.5-2.5 m high. Culms large simple, erect, the nodes bearded with stiffly ascending short white hairs, sometimes prop-rooted, shortly rhizomatous. Leaves long narrow linear, to 30-60 cm long and 1-1.5 cm wide, flat to slightly folded, glabrous to hairy with a broad white prominent midrib, sharply scabrid margins; base narrowed, almost petiolate; ligule a hair-fringed membrane of 2 mm long; sheath glabrous above but lowest ones and especially their bases often densely prickly hairy, the hairs extending on to the culm bases and rhizome; butt-sheaths white-woolly. Roots coarse and stout.
* Inflorescence composed of digitate racemes. Racemes 3-4 (1-6), 12-23 cm long; rhachis fragile at the nodes, villous on margins with long shiny pinkish-purple hairs; internodes cuneate, arcuate, tip transverse, cupuliform. Spikelets in pairs; fertile spikelets sessile, sterile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels narrowly elliptic, terete, villous.
* Sessile spikelets lanceolate or elliptic, 7-11 mm long; callus base obtuse. Lower glume elliptic, coriaceous, keeled laterally, winged near apex, convex, glabrous to villous with purple-white hairs; upper glume lanceolate; chartaceous. Lower lemma membranous; upper lemma oblong, apex lobed with a geniculate awn of 2-4.5 cm long with twisted glabrous column from a sinus. Pedicelled spikelets lanceolate, 8-10 mm long; glumes chartaceous, muticous.
Distribution West Africa: Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad.
Distribution world-wide: Ethiopia, Burundi, Tanzania.