FTA 9: 258 (1919).- Type: Bates 336, Cameroon (syn- K); Mann 533, Nigeria (syn- K) ; Hunter s.n., Sierra Leone (isosyn- BM).
Andropogon guineensis Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 371 (1854) nom. illeg.- Type: Jardin s.n., Guinea (holo- P).
Regional litterature: FWTA: 488 (1972) ; Fl. Senegal 10: 56 fig. 27, 28, 29 (1991, unpubl.); Gram. Cameroun: 440, fig. 97 (1992); Poac. CI: 572, fig. (1995) ; Fl. Guinea Bissau: 133 (2008); Fl. Guinée: 449 (2009); Fl. Chad (2013);
Description:
* Caespitose perennial, of 1-1.5 m high, light green, a robust tuft. Culms erect, 3-6 mm diameter with often thickened nodes. Leaves linear, 15-30 cm long and 4-15 mm wide and a pseudopetiolate base of up to 20 cm long; ligule an eciliate membrane of 4-10 mm long; sheath keeled and compressed, auricles of 4-10 mm long, erect (in western Africa up to 5 cm long(.
* Inflorescence a lax spathate panicle, composed of terminal and axillary paired racemes. Racemes 4-8 cm long; rhachis fragile, ciliate on the margins with clavate internodes; pedicels 3-4 mm long, ciliate. Spatheole lanceolate, 6-10 cm long, the racemes excerting at maturity; longest peduncle 4-8 mm long.
* Spikelets oblong, dorsally compressed, 5.5-8 mm long, light green; callus obtuse and pilose. Lower glume oblong, keeled laterally with a yellow longitudinal depression, hairy along midline and distinct intercarinal veins. Upper lemma 4 mm long with a glabrous geniculate awn of 10-17 mm long from the sinus; column twisted, dark brown. Pedicelled spikelet lower glume with an awn of 1-3 mm long.