Ess. Agrost., 138 (1812).- Type:
Saccharum sagittatum Aubl., Pl. Glum. 1: 50 (1775).
Regional litterature: FWTA: 374 (1972); Ghana Grasses: 158 (1977).
Description:
* Large perennial of up to 3-8 m high. Culms erect, reed-like, 2-8 cm diam. Leaves cauline, distichous, 0.4-2 m long and 2-8 cm broad, spinulose on the margins.
* Inflorescence dioecious, an open plumose panicle of 1-1.5 m long; fertile spikelets pedicelled; male panicle glabrous.
* Female spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets cuneate, laterally compressed, 7-10 mm long; callus 0.5 mm long, glabrous or pilose. Lower glume linear, 3 mm long, membranous; upper glume linear, 7-10 mm long, 1.5-2 length of fertile lemma, membranous, 3 -veined, apex caudate. Fertile lemma elliptic, 5 mm long, membranous, 3 -veined, surface plumose and hairy below, margins involute, apex caudate. Male spikelets glabrous, 3 mm long.
Distribution West Africa: introduced in Ghana.
Distribution world-wide: Americas.