Kew Bull. 42: 403 (1987).- Type: Rodrigues de Carvalho s.n., Mozambique, Gorongosa, (holo- W).
Panicum oplismenoides Hack., Bol. Soc. Brot. 6:141 (1888);
Chloachne secunda Stapf, in Hook, le. PI. 31: tab. 3072 (1916).- Type: Mann 1354, 2101, Cameroon (syn- K);
Chloachne oplismenoides (Hack.) Robyns, Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 9: 173 (1932) .
Regional litterature: FTA 9: 489 (1919); Fl. Agrost. Congo Belge 2 : 66 (1934); FWTA: 436 (1972); FTEA: 545, fig. 130 (1982); Gram. Cameroun: 188, fig 41 (1992); Fl. Zambesiaca 10,3:3, fig (1989); Fl. Ethiopia & Eritrea 7: 194, fig (1995); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 143 (2015).
Description:
* Straggling perennial of 60-80 cm high. Culms stoloniferous, rooting at the lower nodes. Leaves narrowly lanceolate, thin and flaccid, 5-14 cm long and 4-25 mm wide, with obsure cross-veins; ligule a long-ciliate membrane of 3 mm long.
* Inflorescence composed of 4-10 loose, ascending, unilateral racemes along the central axis of 6-20 cm long; the lower racemes compound with short racemelets, becoming simple towards the tip. Racemes 2-7 cm long, rhachis angular; spikelets paired, packed laxly to densely.
* Spikelets lanceolate, 6-8 mm long. Glumes similar, setose with tubercle based hairs, herbaceous, acuminate; lower glume ovate, up to half the length of spikelet; upper glume ovate, 5-6 mm long. Lower lemma similar to glumes, as long as spikelet; upper lemma ellipsoid, 4 mm long, cartilaginous, shiny, rounded but the tip keeled, acute, margins involute; palea similar.
Distribution West Africa: Nigeria, Cameroon, South Sudan
Distribution world-wide: Ethiopie, DRC and C, E and southern Africa.