Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1921: 281 (1921).- Type: Burtt-Davy 18156, South Africa (holo- K).
Regional litterature: FTEA: 317 (1974); Fl. Ethiopia & Eritrea 7: 175 (1995); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 124 (2015).
Description:
* Slender rhizomatous and stoloniferous, sward-forming perennial of 5-15 cm high. Culms delicate, prostrate, 0.2-0.4 mm diameter. Leaves involute and filiform, 1-4 mm long, 0.5-1 mm wide, glaucous; ligule a ciliate membrane of 0.1-0.3 mm long.
* Inflorescence 1-3 digitate racemes, in a single whorl. Racemes unilateral, 0.7-1.5 cm long; rhachis flattened; spikelets 2-rowed.
* Spikelets with one fertile floret, ovate, 2.5 mm long, thinly membranous. Glumes similar, lanceolate, herbaceous, 0.7 mm long, acute. Lemma lanceolate to ovate, 2.5 mm long, membranous to cartilaginous, keeled, glabrous to sparsely pilose along the keel; palea glabrous.
Distribution West Africa: South Sudan.
Distribution world-wide: Libya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda, DRC and E and southern Africa.