Sp. Pl. 83 (1753).- Type: van Royen s.n., Europe (syn- L, lecto- LINN).
Regional litterature: Fl. Zambesiaca 10,1: 44, fig (1971; Fl. Ethiopia & Eritrea 7: 18, fig (1995); Pl. Mauritania: 273 (1998); Fl. Libya: 19 (1988).
Description:
* Caespitose perennial of 0.3-0.9 m high. Culms erect or decumbent. Leaves 3-20 cm long and 2-6 mm wide; ligule an eciliate membrane; sheaths with falcate auricles, no oral hairs.
* Inflorescence a single bilateral raceme of 4-30 cm long. Spikelets packing adaxial, their length apart. Spikelets appressed, sessile.
* Spikelets with 4-14 fertile florets and diminished florets at the apex, oblong, 7-20 mm long, disarticulating below each fertile floret. Lower glume absent or obsucure; upper glume lanceolate. Lemmas oblong, 5-7 mm long, coriaceous obtuse and muticous. Anthers 3-4 mm long; caryopses enclosed within hardened palea and lemma.
Distribution West Africa: Mauritania.
Distribution world-wide: Morocco, Algeria, Tunesia, Libya, Egypt and Europe, W and temperate Asia, Australia, Americas.