in DC.,Monogr. Ph. 6: 272 (1889).- Type: Newton, Angola (holo- COI).
Rottboellia agropyroides Hack., Bol. Soc. Brot. 3: 135 (1885);
Urelytrum pallidum C.E.Hubbard, Kew Bull. 4: 376 (1949).- Type: Hinds 6, Ghana (holo- K);
Urelytrum gracilius C.E. Hubbard, Kew Bull. 4: 369 (1949).- Type: Bumpus 29, Nigeria (holo- K);
Urelytrum semispirale W.D.Clayton, Kew Bull. 20: 257 (1966).- Type: Rose Innes 31325, Ghana (holo- K).
Regional litterature: Stapf, FTA 9: 45 (1917; Stanfield, Fl. Nigeria: 110 (1970); Clayton, FWTA 3(2): 504 (1972); Ghana grasses: 254 (1977); FTEA: 833 (1982); Gram. Cameroun: 511(1992); Fl. Zambesiaca 10,4: 151 (1999).
Description:
* A stiff tussock forming perennial, 0.5-2.0 m high. Leaves 10-50 cm long and 1-6 mm wide, surface ribbed and glabrous; margins spinulose; sheath auricles absent or erect; ligule an eciliate membrane of 4-6 mm long, acute.
* Inflorescence composed of 1 (- 2) racemes, smoothly terete, 8-25 cm long; rachis fragile at the nodes, semi terete; internodes cuneate, tip oblique and crater form. Pedicels cuneate.
* Sessile spikelets elliptic, 7-9 mm long; callus oblong, pubescent, obtuse. Lower glume elliptic, coriaceous, keel-less except near apex; surface smooth or spinose or muricate; glabrous or pubescent, acute; upper glume ovate, chartaceous. Lower lemma linear, hyaline; upper lemma lanceolate, hyaline, acute. Pedicelled spikelets with sub equal glumes, elliptic, 2-7 mm long, persistent. Glumes coriaceous with one 1.5-5 ( -7) cm long awn.
Distribution West Africa: Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon.
Distribution world-wide: DRC, Tanzania, Southern Africa.