Kirkia 3: 136 (1963).- Type: Trabut 250, Algeria (syn- MPU); 295, Algeria (iso- MPU)
Aristida sahelica Trab., Bull. Soc. Bot. France 34: 392 (1888);
Aristida plumosa ssp. sahelica (Trab.) de Winter, Fl. Algérie 2: 160 (1895)
Regional litterature: Fl. Sahara: 169 (1977); Fl. Mauritanie 2: 475, fig (1991); Pl. Mauritanie: 278 (1998); Fl. Chad (2013)
Description:
* Caespitse perennial of 25-50 cm high, wooly roots. Culms ascending, internodes distally glabrous or pubescent. Leaves convolute, glaucous, 5-15 cm long and 1-1.5 mm wide; ligule a fringe of hairs.
* Inflorescence an open lanceolate panicle of 10-20 cm long. Primary branches 2-7 cm long, glabrous.
* Spikelets lanceolate, subterete, 18-19 mm long; callus pubescent, 2 cm long, acute. Glumes lanceolate, membranous, longer than the floret, acuminate; lower glume10-13 mm long; upper glume 4-5 mm long, puberulous, attenuate. Lemma 4 mm long, coriaceous, 3-veined, margins convolute; awn 3-branched, with a 4 cm long plumose limb, column straight or slightly twisted, 5-7.5 mm long, deciduous, abscissing from the top of the lemma; lateral branches 10-15 mm long, glabrous.
Distribution West Africa: Mauritania, Chad
Distribution world-wide: Maroc, Algeria