Kew Bull. 1936: 300 (1936).- Type: Maitland 874, Mildbread 10881, Cameroon, Cameroon Mt (holo- K).
Regional litterature: FWTA: 372 (1972); Gram. Cameroun: 77 (1992).
Description:
* Delicate annual of 10-30 cm high, in small tufts. Culms erect or geniculately ascending. Leaves flat or convolute, 3.5-9 cm long and 0.5-1 cm long ; ligule an eciliate membrane of 2-5 mm long.
* Inflorescence an open panicle of 4-10 cm long and 1-4 cm wide. Spikelets solitary, with filiform pedicels of 2-5 mm long.
* Spikelets cleistogamous with one floret and a barren rhachilla extension, elliptic, 3 mm long; floret callus bearded with hairs of 0.5-1 mm long. Glumes similar, gaping, membranous, as long as spikelet, with a scabrid keel, the upper glume with hyalin margins. Lemma oblong, 2-2.5 mm long, coriaceous, 5-veined, margins involute, covering the palea, apex bifid with a dorsal awn from the middle of the lemma, geniculate, with a twisted column, of 4-6 mm long. Anthers 3, 0.2-0.3 mm long.
Distribution West Africa and world-wide: Cameroon