Kirkia 3: 133 (1963).- Type: Ehrenberg, Angola.
Aristida acutiflora Trin. & Rupr., Sp. Gram. Stip. 167 (1842);
Arthratherum brachyatherum ssp. acutiflorum (Trin. & Rupr.) Coss. & Durieu, Expl. Sci. Algérie 2: 291 (1867).
Regional litterature: FWTA: 376 (1972); : Fl. Sahara: 170 (1977); Fl. Mauritanie 2: 475, fig (1991); Pl. Mauritanie: 276 (1998); Poac. Niger: 145 , fig (1999); Fl. Egypt: 229 (2005); Fl. Chad (2013); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 149 (2015)
Description:
* Tufted perennial caespitose with or without stolons. Culms geniculately ascending, 20-40 cm long; internodes distally pubescent; nodes glabrous. Leaves filiform, convolute, 4-7 cm long and 1 mm wide, stiff and scabrous; ligule a fringe of hairs; oral hairs bearded. Roots with fine hairs fixing sand.
* Inflorescence an open lanceolate panicle of 10-15 cm long, exerted or embraced at the base by the subtending leaf; axis scabrid, ciliate at the lower ramifications. Spikelets pedicelled.
* Spikelets lanceolate, subterete, 7-9 mm long, yellow-green; callus elongated and pungent, 1.3 mm long, pubescent. Glumes persistent, similar, membranous, lanceolate; lower glume 7-8 mm long, primary vein scaberulous, acuminate; upper glume, 8-9 mm long, dentate, acute and mucronate. Lemma lanceolate, subterete, 3-4 mm long, coriaceous, convolute with 3-branched awn; awn with a straight or slightly twisted column, deciduous and abscissing from top of lemma; limb plumose, 10-15 mm long, glabrescent towards the tip and base; column 1 mm long, glabrous without distinct apical hairs; lateral awns 5-7 mm long, glabrous. Caryops cylindrical, 2-2.5 mm long, yellow-brown.