Diagn. Pl. Orient., ser. 2, 4: 131 (1859).- Type: Stocks 637, Pakistan, Sind (holo- G, iso- K).
Dactyloctenium glaucophyllum Courbai, Ann. Sci. Nat.. Bot. IV, 18 : 123 (1862).
Regional litterature: Fl. Ethiopia & Eritrea 7: 135, fig. (1995); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 125 (2015).
* Stoloniferous mat-forming perennial of 7-45 cm high; butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb. Culms erect. Leaves tough, rather glaucous, 1-11 cm long and 1.5-3 mm wide, acuminate, margins tuberculate-ciliate; ligule a ciliolate membrane.
* Inflorescence composed of 3-4(-5) digitate racemes. Racemes incurved, unilateral, 0.8-2 cm long; rhachis deciduous from axis, flattened, terminating in a barren bristle-like extension. Spikelet 2-rowed, packing broadside, crowded.
* Spikelets with 3-9 fertile florets, with diminished florets at the apex, lanceolate, or ovate, 4-8 mm long, disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Lower glume elliptic, 1.7-2.5 mm long, acute, winged on keel, midvein scabrous; upper glume elliptic, 1.5-2.3 mm long, membranous, midvein scabrous with a subapical awn of 1-2.3 mm long. Lemmas lanceolate, 3-3.8 mm long, membranous, acute; apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped. Anthers 1-2 mm long. Caryopsis 1 mm long, transversely rugose.
Distribution West Africa: Sudan.
Distribution world-wide: Egypt, Ethiopia and NE Africa, Kenya, southern Asia.