Philip. J. Sc. Bot. 12: 101 (1917).- Type: Vachell 52, China (holo- CGE).
Homoeatherum chinensis Nees, in Lindley, Nat. Syst., ed. 2: 488 (1836);
Andropogon ascinodis C.B.Cl., J. Linn. Soc. 25: 87 (1889);
Andropogon patris Robyns, FI. Agrost. Congo Belge 1: 137 (1929).
Regional litterature: FTA, 9: 245 (1919); FI. Gabon 5: 169 (1962); FI. Nigeria: 84 (1970); FWTA: 486 (1972); Ghana grasses: 92 (1977); Gram. Togo: 137 (1983); Fl. Senegal 10:59, fig. 33, 34 (1991, unpubl.); Gram. Cameroun: 435, fig. 96 (1992) ; Poac. CI: 560, fig. (1995); Poaceae Niger : 579, fig. (1999); Fl. Zambesiaca : 70 (2002); Fl. Bénin: 179 (2006); Fl. Guinea Bissau: 133 (2008); Fl. Guinée: 449 (2009); Fl. Chad (2013);
Description:
* Coarse, densely tufted perennial of 1-2 m high; tufts 10-30 cm diam. Culms erect, yellow, cylindrical. Leaves narrowly linear, 10-40 cm long and 1-8 mm wide, glabrous to densely hairy on both surfaces; ligule a ciliate, brownish shredded, rounded membrane of 1 mm long; sheaths mostly densely hairy, slightly keeled towards apex, with auricles of 0-4 mm long.
* Inflorescence a spathate panicle of 30-60 cm long with numerous branches from the upper culm bearing short, delicate, terminal and axillary, paired racemes (rarely in threes) subtended by a linear spatheole. Racemes 3-6 cm long, silvery hairy to villous, flexible; rhachis fragile, ciliate on the margins with hairs 1-3 mm long; internodes and pedicels cuneate, 2-3 mm long, ciliate with 1-3 mm long hairs.
* Sessile spikelets linear, laterally compressed, 5-6 mm long; callus obtuse and pilose. Lower glume linear, coriaceous, keeled and deeply depressed dorsally, glabrous; upper glume linear, chartaceous with awn (1 -) 5-13 mm long. Lower lemma oblong, hyaline; upper lemma oblong, hyaline, with from the sinus the geniculate awn of 2-3.5 cm long with twisted glabrous column. Pedicelled spikelets lanceolate or elliptic, 4-6 mm long; glumes membranous, glabrous to pilose, acute, both with a 3-12 mm long awn.
Note: A variable species with a tendancy towards the south to sparce panicles containing longer racemes and larger spikelets.