Rev. Gram. 2: 517, t. 173 (1831).- Type: Leprieur 2, Senegal (iso- P).
Aristida steudelinana Trin. & Rupr., Sp. Gram. Stipac.: 155 (1842). - Type: Kotschy 33, Sudan (isosyn- K).
Regional litterature: FTEA: 150, fig. 48 (1970); FWTA: 379 (1972); Ghana grasses: 100 (1977); Gram. Togo: 152, fig. (1983); Gram. Cameroun: 97, fig 20 (1992); Fl. Ethiopia & Eritrea 7: 81 (1995); Pl. Mauritanie: 279 (1998); Poac. Niger: 159 , fig. (1999); Fl. Bénin: 183, fig (2006); Pl. Burkina Faso: 70 (2012); Fl. Chad (2013); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 119 (2015)
Description:
* Branched erect annual bunchgrass, 0.1-0.9 m high. Culms slightly compressed to oval, especially towards the base. Leaves departing from the culm in angles up to 45 degree, 5-30 cm long and 2-6 mm broad, expanded to completely folded, glabrous, both surfaces scabrid, base slightly rounded; ligule vestigial, white membranous; sheath compressed, partly keeled.
* Inflorescence a distinctive erect golden-green spike-like panicle of 5-16 cm long with spikelets dense and contiguous.
* Spikelets green to purplish, 6-10 mm long; callus narrow oblong, 0.5-1 mm long, obtuse. Glumes lanceolate, scabrid, the lower 5-8 mm long with an awn -5 mm; the upper 6-9 mm long with an awn of 1-4 mm. Lemma rolled, 5-7 mm long, scabrid on longitudinal lines, articulated on the tip; awn without column, with 3 distinct unequal branches of 2.0-3.5 cm long, mounted on lemma and breaking away when dry.