in W.P.Hiern, Cat. Afr. Pl. 2: 145 (1899).- Type: Huila, Angola, Welwitsch 7505 (type- LISU,BM; iso- K,MPU).
Hypogynium spathiflorum of FTA 9: 168, not of Nees, F. Bras. Enum. Pl. 2: 349 (1829).
Regional litterature: FWTA: 485 (1972); Fl. Guinée: 449 (2009); Fl. Zambeziaca 10,4: 68 (2002).
Description:
* Caespitose perennial, 0.6-1.5 m high, with compacted dead old butt sheaths at the base. Culms erect, branched. Leaves flat or folded, 10-25 cm long and 2-4 mm wide, stiff; ligule a short ciliolate membrane of 0.5 mm long; basal sheaths distichous, laterally compressed and keeled.
* Inflorescence a narrow spathate panicle of 15-40 cm long, with solitary racemes gathered into fascicles of 1-6 at regular intervals along the culm. Spatheoles linear, 1.5-2 cm long, herbaceous; peduncle pubescent above, as long as racemes. Racemes 6-12 cm (3-4 cm in Fl. Zambesiaca) long, dark red; rhachis fragile, glabrous breaking up with sessile, pedicelles spikelets and internode; internodes 2 mm long, filiform; pedicels linear, 0.3-1 mm long.
* Sessile spikelets 3-4.5 mm long, awnless; callus oblong, 0.7 mm long, truncate, glabrous but a small crown of hairs at the base. Lower glume lanceolate, coriaceous, flat or concave with a shallow depression on the back, 2-keeled towards the top; intercarinal veins absent; upper glume with ciliolate margins. Lower lemma lanceolate, 2 mm long; upper lemma hyaline, 2 mm long, without an awn. Pedicelled spikelets similar, male.
Note: Related to the much more robust A. brazzae