Kew Bull 4: 368 (1949).- Type: Saunders 36a, Nigeria (holo- K).
Regional litterature: FWTA: 502 (1972).
Description: Caespitose perennial of 1-1.5 m high, its base covered by butt sheaths and fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 2-4 mm diameter, 4-6-noded. Leaves flat or revolute, 15-70 cm long and 2-5 mm wide, stiff, glaucous, margins scabrous; ligule an eciliate membrane of 7-16 mm long merged with the erect auricles
* Inflorescence in 1-3 digitate racemes. Racemes straight or arcuate, 10-15 cm long; rhachis fragile, scaberulous; internodes oblong, 9-11 mm long; pedicels similar.
* Sessile spikelets fertile, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, 8-11 mm long; callus oblong, pubescent, inserted. Lower glume elliptic, coriaceous, keel-lees except near the tip, smooth, glabrous; upper glume ovate, 1-keeled. Upper lemma oblong to ovate, hyaline, 3-veined; anthers 3, 4 mm long. Pedicelled spikelets reduced, elliptic, 1-4 mm long; glumes coriaceous with one awn of 6.5-10 cm long.
Distribution West Africa and world-wide: Nigeria.