Kirkia 3: 135 (1963).- Type: Raddi s.n., Egypt.
Aristida raddiana Savi, Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 421 (1854).
Regional litterature: Fl. Egypt: 229, fig. 65 (2005); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 149 (2015).
Description:
* Caespitose perennial of 20-65 cm high; rhizomes elongated. Culms ascending or erect, internodes pubescent; lateral branches suffrutescent. Leaves convolute, filiform, stiff, 10-15 cm long and 0.5 mm wide, pubescent; ligule a fringe of hairs.
* Inflorescence a contracted not fully exceted panicle of 10-20 cm long. Spikelets solitary, pedicelled.
* Spikelets lanceolate, subterete, 13-16 mm long; callus bearded, 1 mm long, acute. Glumes lanceolate, membranous, longer than the floret; lower glume 13-18 mm long, 3-nerved; upper glume 13-15 mm long, acute, 1 (3) nerved. Lemma 4-5 mm long, coriaceous, scabrous, 3-veined, margins convolute; awn 3-branched, with a 5-7 cm long plumose limb; column straight or slightly twisted, 10-14 mm long, deciduous, abscissing from the top of the lemma; lateral branches 15-16 mm long, glabrous.