Sp. Pl. 71 (1753).- Type: LINN 90/3, Europe (holo- LINN).
Regional litterature: Fl. Ethiopia & Eritrea 7: 19, fig. (1995); Fl. Libya: 58 (1988).
Description:
* Coarse tufted perennial of 0.2-1.5 m high. Culms erect or spreading. Leaves folded at first; sheaths strongly compressed and keeled.
* Inflorescence an oblong to ovate panicle of 2-30 cm long, the fascicles densely clustered or more often with the lower branches distant, spreading and bare at the base.
* Spikelets oblong to wedge-shaped, 5-9 mm long, the florets closely imbricate. Glumes lanceolate to ovate, ciliate on the keel, finely pointed. Lemmas lanceolate to oblong in profile, 4-7 mm long, ciliate or scabrid on the keel, with a stout awn from the tip of 1.5 mm long.
Distribution West Africa: Introduced in Cameroon (World Checklist).
Distribution world-wide: Morocco, Algeria, Tunesia, Libya, Egypt, Ethiopia and Europe, temporate Asia; introduced in E Africa, South Africa, and elsewhere.