FTA 9: 372 (1919).- Type: Schimper 1805, Ethiopia (holo- P, iso- K, L, S, G, BR).
Andropogon glabriusculus A. Rich., Tent. Fl. Abyss. 2: 468 (1851);
Hyparrhenia amoena Jacques-Félix, J. Agric. Trop. Bot. Appl. 1: 46 (1954).- Type: Berhaut 1896, Senegal (holo- P);
Sorghum glabriusculum (A. Rich.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. 2: 791 (1891).
Regional litterature: FI. Nigeria: 97 (1970); FWTA: 491 (1972); Ghana grasses: 162 (1977); FTEA : 792 (1982) ; Gram. Togo: 231 (1983); Gram. Cameroun: 471 (1992); Poac. CI: 588, fig. (1995); Fl. Zambesiaca 10,4 : 98 , fig (2002) ; Fl. Bénin: 210 (2006) ; Pl. Burkina Faso: 91 (2012); Fl. Chad (2013).
Description:
* Erect robust perennial bunchgrass of up to 1-1.8 m, slightly fibrous at the base. Culms pale yellow. Leaves long linear, flat and up to 15-30 cm long and 5 mm wide long with a pale midrib and sharply scabrid margins rolling outwards on drying; base narrowed and passing directly into the sheath; ligule a short rounded membrane of 1 mm long; sheath glabrous. Roots coarse and stout.
* Inflorescence a narrow dense false panicle 15-30 cm long and 6 cm wide with clusters of pink-spatheolate short, paired racemes; spatheoles linear lanceolate, 2-3 cm long; peduncle 1-2 cm long, glabrous. Racemes erect, 1.5-2.5 cm long, with 5-8 awns per pair; rhachis fragile at the nodes, ciliate on margins; hairs white; internodes linear, flat; raceme-bases flattened, unequal, the longer 2-3 mm long, glabrous. Spikelets in pairs, appressed; pedicels ciliate. Homogamous spikelets well-developed, 2 in the lower raceme and none in the upper raceme.
* Sessile spikelets lanceolate, 5.5-6.5 mm long; callus broadly semicircular, 0.5 mm long, pubescent. Lower glume lanceolate, coriaceous, glabrous, keeled towards the tip. Upper lemma linear, apex dentate, with geniculate awn with twisted column from the sinus, 1.5-3 cm long, puberulous with short hairs. Pedicelled and homogamous spikelets well-developed, lanceolate, 4-6 mm long; glumes glabrous, smooth on margins.
Distribution West Africa: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad.
Distribution world-wide: Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique.