Syn. Pl. 1: 101 (1805).- Type: LINN-HL 12127, Sweden (lecto- LINN).
Holcus halepensis Linn., Sp. Pl.: 1074 (1753).
Regional litterature: FWTA: 467 (1972); Fl. Ethiopia & Eritrea 7: 299, fig (1995); Fl. Zambesiaca 10,4: 22 (2002), Fl. Guinée: 478 (2009); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 147 (2015).
Description:
* Perennial with elongated scaly rhizomes, 0.5-3 m high. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, nodes pubescent. Leaves 20-90 cm long and 5-40 mm wide, margins scaberulous; ligule a ciliolate membrane
* Inflorescence an open lanceolate or pyramidal panicle of 10-55 cm long and 3-25 cm wide. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes, moderately divided, tipped by a raceme. Racemes 1.2-2.5 cm long, bearing 1-5 spikelets on each; rhachis fragile at the nodes, ciliate on margins; internodes filiform. Spikelets in pairs, one sessile, the other pedicelled; pedicels filiform, ciliate.
* Spikelets elliptic, 4.5-5.5 mm long; callus pubescent, obtuse. Glumes dissimilar glabrous, or pubescent, elliptic, coriaceous, pallid to purple or black, 2-keeled, apex 3 -fid; upper glume ovate, coriaceous. Lower lemma elliptic, hyaline, ciliolate on margins; upper lemma elliptic, 2-2.5 mm long, hyaline, margins ciliate; awn geniculate from the sinus, 10-16 mm long with twisted pubescent column. Sterile spikelets pedicelled, well-developed, male, lanceolate, 4.5-6.5 mm long; glumes chartaceous, muticous.
Note: The distinguishing features are the abundant slender wide-spreading rhizomes, glabrous nodes, narrow leaves and the somewhat small contracted panicles. A frequent variation is the presence or absence of an awn to the superior lemma.
Distribution West Africa: Cape Verde, Senegal, Guinea, Benin, Chad, ?Sudan.
Distribution world-wide: N Africa, Europe, Asia; introduced elsewhere.