Fund. Agrost. 98 (1820).- Type: Koenig s.n., India (type- BM).
Nardus thomaea L.f, Suppl. Pl. 105 (1782).
Regional litterature: Fl. Ethiopia & Eritrea 7: 98, fig (1995); Fl. Chad (2013); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 138 (2015).
Description:
* Tiny tufted perennial of up to 5 cm high; butt sheaths persistant with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect. Leaves filiform, flat or convolute, 1.5-3 cm long and 0.3-0.8 mm wide; ligule a ciliolate membrane.
* Inflorescencea solitary terminal raceme of 1-4 cm long with spikelets on 2 opposite sides, sunk in the flattened excavated tough rhachis, embraced by the subtending leaf.
* Spikelets with one fertile floret, lanceolate, 2-2.5 mm long; callus pubescent. Lower glume oblong, 0.4 mm long, hyaline; upper glume lanceolate, 2-2.5 mm long, herbaceous, acute. Lemma obovate, 0.7-1 mm long, membranous, bifid and obscurely mucronate.
Dry open bushland and amongst rocks.
Distribution West Africa: Chad, Sudan.
Distribution world-wide: Ethiopia and Somalia, E Africa and South and SE Asia.