J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 29 : 65 (1891).- Type: Scott-Elliot 2034, Madagscar (syn- K,P), Scott-Elliott 2260, Madagascar (syn- W,K) ; Scott-Elliott 3052, Madagascar (syn- K,W).
Sporobolus angustifolius A. Richard, Tent. Fl. Abyss. 2: 396 (1851).- Type: Quartin Dillon & Petit s.n., Shire, Ethiopia (holo- P)
Sporobolus hubbardi A. Chev., Bull. Mus. Matl. Nat. Hist. II, 20: 469 (1948).- Type: Chevalier 20855, Guinea (holo- P)
Sporobolus ledermanni Mez, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 17: 296 (1921).- Type : Ledermann 2822, Moa Barakesch, Cameroon (holo- B; iso- K).
Regional litterature: FTEA: 377 (1974); Fl. Ethiopia & Eritrea 7: 153 (1995); Fl. Zambesiaca 10,2: 187 (1999); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 147 (2015).
Description:
* Densely caespitose perennial of 12-60 cm high, the basal sheaths becoming fibrous at age. Culms erect, slender. Leaves convolute, sometimes filiform, 5-12 cm long and 1-2 mm wide the margins and collar pilose and with a flexuous filiform tip.
* Inflorescence a linear to narrowly ovate panicle of 5-16 cm long; primary branches ascending. Spikelets loosely contracted about the primary branches, that are bare for their basal third, with pedicels mostly longer than 1 mm long.
* Spikelets narrowly lanceolate, 2-3 mm long, smooth or scaberulous, grey green to dark green. Lower glume oblong to narrowly ovate, 0.8-1.4 mm long, acute to obtuse; upper glume lanceolate, 1.1-2.1 mm long, acute. Lemma narrowly ovate, as long as spikelet or overtopped by the palea. Anthers 3, 1-1.5 mm long. Caryopsis ellipsoid, 1-1.2 mm long, truncate.
Distribution West Africa: Guinea, Sudan, South Sudan.
Distribution world-wide: Ethiopia, Uganda, DRC, and NE, E Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Arabic Peninsular.