Kirkia 3: 133 (1963).- Type: Algeria.
Aristida brachythera Coss. & Balansa, Bull. Soc. Bot. France 5: 169, 786 (1858);
Arthratherum brachytherum (Coss. & Balansa) Coss.& Balansa, Expl.Sci. Algérie 2: 290 (1867);
Aristida acutiflora ssp. brachythera (Coss. & Balansa) Trab., Fl. Algérie, Monocot. 160 (1895)
Regional litterature: Fl. Mauritanie 2: 475 (1991).
Description:
* Caespitose perennial of 0.4-0.8 m high with short rhizomes. Culms geniculately ascending; internodes striate, distally pubescent; nodes glabrous. Leaves curved, filiform, convolutous, 10-15 cm long and 1-2 mm wide, stif, glaucous, puberulous, hairy adaxially; ligule a fringe of hairs; sheaths mostly shorter than the internodes, scaberulous, oral hairs bearded.
* Inflorescence an excerted open panicle or embraced by the subtending leaf at the primary branches appressed or ascending, 3-7 cm long, 10-25 cm long, bearded in the axil; peduncle and axis scaberulous.
* Spikelets lanceolate, subterete, 7.5 mm long with an elongated pungent bearded callus of 2 mm long, longer hairs above. Glumes similar, lanceolate, membranous; lower glume 7 mm long, pubescent; upper glume 7.5 mm long, scaberulous. Lemma lanceolate, 5 mm long with a 3-branched awn, column twisted, 1-2 mm long, glabrous, branches 8-12 mm long, the central pubescent but glabrescent towards the tip, the lateral branches glabrous; palea 0.3 length of the lemma, truncate. Caryopsis fusiform, 3 mm long.