Monogr. Digitaria: 67 (1950).- Type: Chevalier 43090, Sudan (holo- L ; iso- P).
Regional litterature: FWTA: 454 (1972).
Description:
* Tufted annual up to 60 cm high. Culms slender, geniculately ascending; nodes bearded. Leaves linear, 5-10 cm long and 2-4 mm wide; ligule an eciliate membrane of 1-2 mm long.
* Inflorescence composed of 4-5 digitate racemes. Racemes unilateral, 5-10 cm long; rhachis wingless, angular. Spikelets in pairs on unequal pedicels.
* Spikelets elliptic, 2-2.2 mm long. Lower glume absent or obscure; upper glume elliptic, as long as spikelet, membranous, 3-5 veined, glabrous, acute. Lower lemma without palea, similar to upper glume, with equidistant veins, glabrous, acute; upper lemma elliptic, cartilaginous, margins much thinner, flat, covering most of palea, acute.
Distribution West Africa and world-wide: Mali, Nigeria.