Kirkia 3: 133 (1963).- Type: Schinz 672, South Africa (syn- BOL).
Aristida ciliata Desf., in Schrad., Neues J. Bot. 3: 225 (1809);
Aristida schimperi Hochst. ex Steud., Syn. Pl. Glum. 1: 143 (1854).
Regional litterature: FWTA: 376 (1972); Fl. Sahara: 169 (1977); Fl. Mauritanie 2: 475, fig (1991); Pl. Mauritanie: 277 (1998); Poaceae Niger: 144 , fig (1999); Fl. Egypt: 225 (2005); Fl. Chad (2013); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 149 (2015).
Description:
* Caespitose rhizomatous perennial. Culms weak, erect or ascending, 30-85 cm long with bearded nodes. Leaves setaceous, filiform, convolute, arcuated, 3-25 cm long and 1 mm wide, scabrous; ligule a fringe of hairs; auricles ciliated.
* Inflorescence an open panicle of 10-15 cm long. Spikelets pedicelled.
* Spikelets lanceolate, subterete, 9-11 mm long, ivory white; callus elongated, curved and pungent, 1.5-2.5 mm long, bearded with longer hairs above. Glumes persistent, similar, subcoraceous, lanceolate and acute, glabrous; lower glume 9-10 mm long; upper glume 10-12 mm long. Lemma oblong, subterete, 7-8 mm long, chartaceous, surface smooth, convolute, acute, with 3-branched awn; awn with a straight or slightly twisted column 4-8 mm long, glabrous without distinct apical hairs, deciduous and abscissing across body of lemma; limb 35-45 mm long ,plumose, glabrescent towards tip and base of limb, lateral awns ascending, 15-25 mm long, glabrous. Caryopsis 4 mm long.