Tent. Fl. Abyss. 2:422 (1851).- Type: Schimper 1826, Ethiopie, Shire (syn P, isosyn TUB,- K); Petit, Ethiopia, Choa (syn- P).
Regional litterature: FTEA: 47 (1970); Fl. Zambesiaca 10,1: 48, fig (1971; FWTA: 369 (1972); Gram. Cameroun: 61 (1992); Fl. Ethiopia & Eritrea 7: 20, fig (1995); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 143 (2015).
Description:
* Slender tufted perennial of 10-80 cm high. Culms erect or weak and ascending. Leaves linear, acute, 10-15 xm long and 2-3 mm wide ; ligule 1-3.5 mm long.
* Inflorescence a linear spiciform panicle of 5-30 cm long ; branches erect and appressed to the main axis.
* Spikelets 2-3 (-4)-flowered, elliptic, 2-4 mm long. Glumes acute, lower lanceolate, upper elliptic. Lemmas elliptic to lanceolate, 1.5-3 mm long, glabrous or hairy on the veins below, with or without a tuft of wool at the base of the keel. Anthers 0.5-1 mm long.
Distribution West Africa: Cameroun, Sudan.
Distribution world-wide: Ethiopia, Uganda, DRC, Congo and NE, E and southern Africa, Arabic peninsular.
Note: Extremely variable species, at high altitudesmall and compactly tufted with dense purplish panicles, whilst at lower altitude a much looser habit.