Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 72: 1264 (1987).- Type: Myers 13497, South Sudan, Imatong Mts (holo- K).
Festuca rigidula sensu Andrews, non Steud.
Regional litterature: Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 131 (2015).
Description:
* Tufted perennial, densely clumped. Butt sheaths withering. Culms 45–90 cm long, 2–2.5 mm diam.; 3–4 -noded, internodes smooth. Leaves filiform, angular in section, 25–50 cm long and 0.6–0.7 mm wide, coriaceous; venation with 7 vascular bundles and 5 inner ridges, with 7 subepidermal sclerenchyma strands and with subepidermal sclerenchyma attached to veins above and below, smooth, acute; ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.2–0.5 mm long, truncate; sheaths smooth.
* Inflorescence a contracted linear panicle of 16–25 cm long; branches appressed, 4–7 cm long; axis scaberulous.
* Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets with diminished florets at the apex, lanceolate, 8–9.2 mm long. Glumes persistent; similar, keelless; lower glume lanceolate, 6–7.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; 1–3 -veined, acute; upper glume lanceolate; 8–9.2 mm long; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined, acute. Fertile lemmas elliptic, 7–8.5 mm long, chartaceous, without keel, 5 -veined, scaberulous, acute, with an awn of 2–2.5 mm long; palea as long as lemma, 2 -veined, keels scabrous, dentate. Anthers 3, 2.5–3 mm long.
Distribution West Africa and world-wide: South Sudan.