Bol. Soc. Brot. 5: 213 (1887).- Type: Moller 153, Sao Tome, Santa Maria, Saudade (holo- K; iso- BR,G).
Regional litterature: FWTA: 408 (1972); FTEA: 372 (1974); Gram. Cameroun: 154 (1992); Fl. Zambesiaca 10,2: 180 (1999); Pl. Vasc. Guiné-Bissau: 175 (2006); Fl. Guinea Bissau: 143 (2008); Fl. Guinée: 479 (2009); Fl. Chad (2013).
Description:
* Tufted annual of 5-60 cm high. Culms erect. Leaves flat or convolute when dry, 2-25 cm long and 1-5 mm wide; ligule a fringe of hairs.
* Inflorescence an open linear panicle of 4-30 cm long with divergent raceme-like primary branches of 5-25 mm long, glabrous in the axils.
* Spikelets lanceolate, 1.7-2 mm long, yellowish or brownish green, markedly acuminate. Lower glume a tiny hyaline scale, 0.2-0,3 mm long; upper glume oblong, 0.5-0.7 mm long, abruptly acuminate and with an awn-point of 0.5 mm long. Lemma lanceolate, as long as spikelet, acuminate to a subulate tip; palea ½-2/3 as long as lemma. Caryopsis obovoid, truncate, 0.5 mm long.
Vernacular names: Hoé-Mbarang (mboum, Wakwa 34); gaouri soli (foulfouldé, Wakwa 20).
Distribution West Africa: Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Nigeria, Cameroon, CAR, Chad.
Distribution world-wide: Uganda, DRC, Gabon and Tanzania, C and southern Africa, Asia, Latin America.