​Floating grass in lakes, rivers, dead branches, forming large aquatic prairies. Good forage grass and also productive in the dry season. The ash of the culms provides for local soap.
Vern.: Bourgou, ambenep (arabe, Vaillant 1315); bourgou (foulfouldé, Malzy 333); denga, ndoko (arabe, Vaillant 1267); dougalkodo (kotoko, Vaillant 1267); gesh (arabe, Letouzey 7058); samaka (massa, Letouzey 6585); savi (kotoko, Letouzey 7058); quéo (Balanta).