Kew Bull., Addit. Ser. 2: 85, fig 21 (1969).- Type: Glover et al., 2145, Kenya (holo- K, iso- EA).
Regional litterature: FTEA: 800 (1982); Fl. Ethiopia & Eritrea 7: 341, fig (1995); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 132 (2015).
Description:
* Densely tufted perennial of 0.6-1.2 m high, the basal sheaths glabrous or sometimes loosely hirsute. Culms 3-5 mm diameter, decumbent. Leaves up to 40 cm long and 4 mm wide, but often much shorter, harsh, glaucous; ligule 2 mm long; sheaths glabrous.
* Inflorescence a loose spathate panicle of 15-45 cm long, with 3-4 simple tiers. Spatheoles linear, 4-6 cm. long, the peduncles usually longer. Racemes 1.5-2.5 cm. long, 4-6(-7)-awned per pair, white villous, not deflexed, terminally excerted, quite open; raceme-bases very unequal, the upper 3.5-6 mm long, glabrous or sometimes softly hirsute; internodes and pedicels 4 mm long. Homogamous pairs 1 or 2 at the base of the lower raceme, and 2 at the base of the upper.
* Sessile spikelets 5-6.5 mm long, white villous; callus 1-1.8 mm long, acute. Awn 2.5-4 cm. long, pubescent with hairs 0.1-0.6 mm. long. Pedicelled and homogamous spikelets linear lanceolate, 4-6 mm long, white villous, muticous or occasionally with an awn-point 1-2 mm. long. Pedicel tooth triangular, 0.6 mm long.
Distribution West Africa: Sudan (Jebel Marra).
Distribution world-wide: DRC, Ethiopia and Burundi, E and southern Africa.