Révis. Gramin. 1: 369 (1830).- Type: Timor (holo- P).
Regional litterature: FWTA: 476 (1972); Gram. Cameroun: 419 (1992)
Description:
* Perennial of 0.1-0.5 m high. Culms rambling, 1 mm diameter, rooting from the lower nodes. Leaves lanceolate, 2-20 cm long and 4-10 mm broad; ligule a ciliolate membrane of 0.5 mm long.
* Inflorescence composed of paired racemes. Racemes 2.5-8 cm long, fragile; rhachis angular and ciliate; internodes linear, 3 mm long, flat, forming a V or U shape with pedicel. Pedicel linear, 3.5 mm long, ciliate.
* Sessile spikelet ovate, 2.5-3 mm long; callus square, 0.5 mm long. Lower glume ovate and convex, coriaceous, thinner towards the tip, keeled laterally, wingless, attenuate; upper glume lanceolate, attenuate. Upper lemma ovate, membranous, incised for half of the length, with a geniculate awn of 6-16 mm long, from the sinus; colomn glabrous. Anthers 3; 2 mm long.
Distribution West Africa: Introduced in Cameroon.
Distribution world-wide: Asia; introduced in Latin America.