Sitz. Acad. Wien, Math.-Nat. 38: 584 (1860).- Type: Wawravon Fernsee 244, Angola, Benguela (holo- W).
Eragrostis platystachys Franch., Bull. Soc. Hiodt. Nat. Autun 8: 382 (1895).- Type: Jardin s.n., ad fluv. Gabon (holo- P);
Uniola jardinii Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 281 (1854).- Type: Jardin s.n., ad fluv. Gabon (holo- P).
Regional litterature: FTEA: 211 (1974) ; Fl. Ethiopia & Eritrea 7: 112 (1995); Fl. Zambesiaca 10,2: 84, fig. 31 (1999); Pl. Burkina Faso: 88 (2012); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 130 (2015);
Description:
* Tough tussocky perennial of 20-120 cm high. Culms erect. Leaves 10-40 cm long and 2-10 mm wide, glaucous; ligule a fringe of hairs.
* Inflorescence an open lanceolate or ovate panicle of 10-30 cm long. Primary branches simple, or moderately branched, stiff. Spikelets born solitary on short oblong pedicels of 1-5 mm long.
* Spikelets comprising 6-28(-47) fertile florets, imbricate, with diminished florets at the apex, ovate or orbicular, strongly compressed, 6-16(-23) mm long and 3-10 mm wide, falling entire. Glumes similar, lanceolate, shorter than spikelet, 2-4 mm long; upper glume lateral veins absent. Lemmas ovate, 3-4.5 mm long, membranous, keeled, 3 -veined, midvein scaberulous; palea 2 -veined, keels thickened, winged and ciliolate. Anthers 3, 2 mm long. Caryopsis ellipsoid, 1-1.5 mm long.
Distribution West Africa: Sudan, introduced in Burkina Faso, Benin.
Distribution world-wide: Ethiopia, Uganda, DRC,Congo, Gabon and NE, E and southern Africa; introduced in the Americas.