Tent. Fl. Abyss. 2: 456 (1851).- Type: Schimper 1807, Ethiopia (holo- P).
Andropogon schirensis var. angustifolius Stapf, Fl. Cap. 7 : 340(1898);
Andropogon golae Chiov., Ann. Bot. Roma 13 : 38 (1914);
Andropogon dummeri Stapf, FTA 9: 248 (1919).
Regional litterature: FTA 9: 246 (1919); Fl. Agr. Congo Belge 1: 134, fig. 11 (1929); Fl. Gabon 5: 168 (1968); Fl. Nigeria (1970); FWTA: 486 (1972); Ghana grasses: 97, fig 5 (1977); FTEA: 779 (1982); Gram. Togo: 148, fig. (1983); Gram. Cameroun: 437 (1992) ; Poac. CI: 562, fig. (1995); Fl. Ethiopia & Eritrea 7: 327, fig (1995); Poac. Niger : 580, fig. (1999); Fl. Zambesiaca : 70 (2002); Fl. Bénin: 181 fig.(2006); Fl. Guinée: 450 (2009); Pl. Burkina Faso: 69 (2012); Fl. Chad (2013); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 118 (2015).
Description:
* Densely tufted perennial of 1-2 m high in large tufts often with old fibrous sheaths at the base; most leaves basal. Culms simple, erect. Leaves more or less erect, linear, 10-70 cm long and 2-12 mm wide, base narrowed, conspicuously hairy to almost glabrous, bluish white midrib and scabrid margins; ligule a short eciliate membrane, 1.5-2 mm long; sheath glabrous or hairy.
* Inflorescence composed of terminal paired racemes, sometimes axillary. Racemes stiff, dark purplish, 5-20 cm long with the sessile and pedicelled spikelets dorso-ventrally arranged, the pedicelled on the inferior side, covering the pedicels and internodes. Rhachis fragile, ciliate on margins; internodes and pedicels claviform, not swollen, 4-6 mm long and ciliated with 3-5 mm long hairs.
* Sessile spikelets lanceolate, glabrous, 6-8 mm long with a cuneiform obtuse callus of 1-2 mm, deeply inserted in the tip of the internode. Lower glume with a longitudinal groove between the two lateral keels that approach each other in the middle, often with spines on the keel; upper glume boat-shaped with a mucro of 0-2 mm. Lemmas oblong, 4 mm long, hyaline; the upper incised for 1/2 with a geniculate awn from a sinus, 2-4 cm long with twisted glabrous column. Pedicelled spikelets elliptic, dorsally compressed, 5-11 mm long, persistent; glumes coriaceous, acute.
Note: A variable species, including a form with a very fibrous base and a form with villous racemes. The forms integrate in such a way that distinguishing them is not helpful.