Alc. Gram. Essenz.: 10 (1909).- Type: Hermann, Sri Lanka (holo- BM).
Andropogon nervatus Hochst., Flora 27: 243 (1844);
Cymbopogon afronardus Stapf, FTA 9: 279 (1919).
Regional litterature: Fl. Ethiopia & Eritrea 7: 163, fig. (1995); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 124 (2015).
Description:
* Annual or short-lived tufted perennial of 0.5-1.5 m high. Culms solitary or erect. Leaves broadly linear, pale green, thin, 15-40 cm long and 6-12 mm wide, smooth, glabrous, rounded at the base; ligule white, scarious, 2-3 mm long.
* Inflorescence a narrowly oblong spathate panicle congested and pale green. Racemes with ciliate internodes and pedicels; hairs 0.5-2 mm long; lower raceme base and pedicel of homogamous pair inflated. Adnate; also the upper raceme base often inflated.
* Sessile spikelets 3.2-4.6 mm long, narrowly elliptic. Lower glume thinly membranous, flat or slightly concave with two clear intercarinal nerves flanked by brown oil streaks; keels broadly winged above the middle. Upper lemma deeply bifid; awn 1.5-2 cm long. Pedicelled spikelet 3.6-5.4 mm long.
Distribution West Africa: CAR, South Sudan.
Distribution world-wide: Ethiopia, and E Africa, SE Asia.