in DC., Monogr. Phan. 6: 435 (1889).- Type: Schweinfurth 2600, Sudan (iso- K).
Andropogon calvescens Stapf, FTA 9:232 (1919).- Type: Pobeguin 1802, Guinée (holo- K).
Regional litterature: FTA 9: 232 (1919); Fl. Agr. Congo Belge 1: 25 (1929); FWTA: 485 (1972); Ghana grasses: 97 (1977); FTEA: 776 (1982); Gram. Cameroun: 433 (1992); Poac. CI: 548, fig. (1995); Fl. Bénin: 182 (2006); Fl. Guinea Bissau: 133 (2008); Fl. Guinée: 450 (2009); Fl. Chad (2013)15); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 118 (2015).
Description:
* Coarse robust perennial bunchgrass; base heavy, covered by old sheaths, 1-4 m tall. Culms erect, cane-like, up to 15 mm diameter. Leaves narrow linear, 30-60 cm long, 1-4 mm wide, stiff and rolled in, usually glabrous with sharp cutting margins, base passing straight into the sheath; ligule a short, membranous, toothed fringe with a partial hairy false ligule on the abaxial side; sheath glabrous, strongly nerved, the basal ones strongly keeled, compressed.
* Inflorescence a compound spathate lax panicle of 0.6-1.2 m long, composed of 5-6 (- numerous) branches with 5-40 digitate racemes, terminal and axillary, subtended by a spatheole. Spatheole linear, 6-8 cm long. Racemes delicate, slender, purplish, silver-hairy, 3-12 cm long; rhachis fragile, glabrous or ciliate on margin, hairs 0-2 mm long; internodes and pedicels filiform, straight or curved.
* Sessile spikelets linear or lanceolate, 4-5.5 mm long; callus obtuse, pilose. Lower glume linear to lanceolate, keeled laterally, concave; upper glume linear, membranous. Lower lemma 4 mm long, hyaline; upper lemma oblong; hyaline; apex incised for 0.25-0.5 of its length with a geniculate awn of 5-15 mm long and a twisted, glabrous column. Pedicelled spikelets lanceolate, 3-5.5 mm long; glumes chartaceous, acute, muticous.
Note: Variable species for the color and shape of the racemes and the hairiness of internodes.