Novosti Syst.Vyssh. Rast. 7: 48 (1971).- Type:
Avena pumila Desf., Fl. Atlant. 1: 103 (1798)
Trisetum pumilum (Desf.) Kunth, Révis. Gramin., 1: 102 (1829)
Koeleria pumila (Desf.) Domin., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 2: 31 (1906)
Lophochloa pumila (Desf.) Bor, Grass. Burm. Ceylon, India, Pakistan: 445 (1960)
Trisetum pumilum ssp. fuscescens Pomel, Nouv. Mat. Fl. Atl. 2: 387 (1875)
Regional litterature: Fl. Sahara: 179 (1977); Fl. Mauritania: 424, fig (1991); Pl. Mauritania: 273 (1998); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 143 (2015).
Description:
* Caespitose annual of 5-35 cm high; culms erect or geniculately ascending. 1-4-noded. Leaves 3-7 cm long and 1-3 mm broad, flaccid, tip hardened; ligule a glabrous obtuse membrane of 1-1.5 mm long.
* Inflorescence a spicorm to ovate, continuous or interrupted panicle of 1-6 cm long and 0.5 mm wide; branches pubescent.
* Spikelets with 4 fertile florets, with barren villous rhachilla extension, 3-3.5 mm long. Glumes similar, gaping, elliptic, villous, 2.5-3 mm long. Lemmas similar with glumes, membranous, elliptic, 3-3.5 mm long, glabrous, with a dorsal awn of 2-3 mm long; palea gaping, hyaline, keels scaberulous. Anthers 3, 0.3 mm long.
Distribution West Africa: Mauritania, Sudan.
Distribution world-wide: Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Tunesia, Libya, Egypt and Spain, W and southern Asia.