Kew Bull., Addit. Ser. 2: 134 fig. 28 (1969).- Type: Thomas 4060, Uganda (holo- K, iso- EA).
Regional litterature: FTEA: 812 (1982); Fl. Zambesiaca: 124 (2002); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 133 (2015).
Description:
* Annual of 1-3 m high. Culms often stout, erect or the lower internodes geniculately ascending, supported by stilt roots. Leaf-blades 15-45 cm long, 6-13 mm wide, the longer blades narrowed to a short false petiole at the base; sheath produced at the mouth into auricles up to 15 mm long; ligule a light brown, 7-15 mm long glabrous membrane, fused with the auricles; sheahths glabrous.
* Inflorescence in a copious false panicle of 0.2-0.35 m long. Spatheoles lanceolate, 2.5-5 cm long, reddish, the peduncles short, densely white bearded on one side near the tip. Racemes 1.5-2 cm long, 2-awned per pair, not deflexed; raceme-bases unequal, the upper 2-2.5 mm long, subterete, the tip with stiff bristles, oblique and produced into a scarious extension of 0.5-0.7 mm long. Homogamous pairs 1 at the base of the lower raceme only
* Sessile spikelet lanceolate, 7-9.5 mm long, pallid, glabrous or hispidulous with white bristles including the pungent callus of 1.5-3 mm long. Lower glume green, slightly pubescent with an shallow mediane depression. Upper lemma linear-lanceolate, with a geniculate awn of 4.5-7.5 cm long, with white short hairs. Pedicelled spikelets 8-9 mm long with an awnlet of 1-6 mm long. Homogamous spikelets 10-11 mm long, glabrous.
Distribution West Africa: South Sudan, Sudan.
Distribution world-wide: DRC, Uganda, Burundi, E and southern Africa.