Cat. Afr. Pl. 2: 155 (1899).- Type: Hermann, Sri Lanka (holo- BM).
Andropogon nardus Linn., Sp. Plant. 1046 (1753);
Cymbopogon validus (Stapf) Burtt-Davey, Ann. Transv. Mus. 3: 121 (1912); FTA 9: 280 (1919);
Cymbopogon afronardus (Stapf, FTA 9: 279 (1919).
Regional litterature: FTEA: 764 (1982); Gram. Togo: 185 (1983); Fl. Ethiopia & Eritrea 7: 328, fig. (1995); Fl. Zambesiaca 10,4 : 80 (2002); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 124 (2015).
Description:
* Aromatic densely caespitose perennial of 1-3 m high. Culms erect or geniculate at the base. Leaves linar, rigid, flat, green or glaucous and often reddish at maturity, 20-60 cm long and 3-15 mm wide, smooth or asperulous on the margins, tapering to a thread-like point; ligule 3-9 mm long, membranous, erose.
* Inflorescence in an interrupted false panicle. reddish. Racemes unequal, weak, first erect, later recurved, 10-20 mm long; lowest pedicel not swollen, free from internode, internodes and pedicels pilose with silvery-white hairs.
* Sessile spikelets lanceolate, 3.5-7 mm long, glabrous. Lower glume subchartaceous, 0-4 intercarinal nerves, sometimes with 1-3 dimples in the lower half; V-shape median groove, keels sharp and becoming winged in the upper half. Upper lemma bifid to the middle with a delicate awn 5-15 mm long, column developed. Pedicelled spikelet male, lanceolate, 3.5-6 mm long, 3-7 intercarinal nerves, awnless.
Distribution West Africa: Togo, Nigeria, Sudan.
Distribution world-wide: DRC, Uganda, and C, E and southern Africa, Asia; introduced in the Americas.