Flora 38: 285 (1855).- Type: Schimper 116, Ethiopie, Semien (holo- P, iso- B).
Anomalotis quinqueseta Steud., Syn. PI. Glum. 1:198 (1855);
Agrostis mildbreadii Pilg., Wiss. Erg. Deut. Zentr. Afr. Exped. , Bot. 47 (1910).- Type: Mildbraed 1597, Rwanda, Karisimbi (holo- B);
Agrostis congesta Hubbard, Kew Bull. 1936: 302 (1936).- Type: Mann 2086, Cameroon, Cameroon Mt. (holo- K).
Regional litterature: FTEA: 111 (1970); FWTA: 372 (1972); Gram. Cameroun: 75, fig. 15 (1992); Fl. Ethiopia & Eritrea 7: 47, fig (1995).
Description:
* Perennial with short rhizomes, 0.2-0.8 m high wth fibrous basal sheaths. Culms erect or ascending, slender. Leaves linear, 15-25 cm long and 2-5 mm wide, striate, stiff ; ligule an eciliate membrane of 4-5 mm long.
* Inflorescence an erect contracted to spiciform panicle of 10-25 cm long with branches of up to 9 cm long. Branches and pedicels smooth tor scabrid.
* Spikelets narrowly oblong, 3.5-4.5 mm long, green, often purple-tinged, rhachilla extension 0-0.5 mm long, hairy ; floret callus bearded laterally. Glumes similar, lanceolate oblong, enclosing the floret, 1-3-veined, the central one scaberulous, lower glume slightly longer than upper glume. Lemma lanceolate-oblong, 1.7-3 mm long, membranous, glabrous or pubescent, 5-nerved with the outer ones excurrent as mucro ; awned from the base, awn geniculate, 3-5 mm long ; palea 2/3 as long as lemma, 2-nerved. Anthers 3, 1.6 mm long.
Distribution West Africa: Cameroon
Distribution world-wide: Ethiopia, DRC,, Uganda and Rwanda, Kenya.
Note: Rather variable grass vegetatively, ranging from loosely tufted, sprawling plants with long narrow leaves to more erect and compact forms.