J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 40: 228 (1911).- Type: Swynnerton 1593, Mozambique (holo- BM).
Regional litterature: Fl. Agrost. Congo Belge 2: 37 (1934); FTEA: 643 (1982); Fl. Ethiopia & Eritrea 7: 253 (1995); Fl. Chad (2013); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 126 (2015).
Description:
* Densely tufted perennial, arising from a short knotty rhizome, the basal sheaths tomentose, of 0.3-2 m high. Culms erect, nodes dark and villously bearded. Leaves linear, 3-10 cm long and 2-10 mm wide, usually softly pilose, acute.
* Inflorescence composed of 6-20 slender racemes arranged on a short common axis of 2-14 cm long. Racemes 5-20 cm long, usually purplish or dark grey, appressed branch racemelets frequent, the spikelets paired on a triquetrous rhachis.
* Spikelets elliptic, 1.5-2.5 mm long, typical purplish grey. Lower glume a truncate or obtuse cuff; upper glume as long as the spikelet, 5-nerved, pubescent. Lower lemma as long as spikelet, 7-nerved, pubescent with fine short white, tawny or violet curly-tipped hairs; upper lemma ellipsoid, yellowish grey to greyish purple.
Distribution West Africa: Chad, Sudan.
Distribution world-wide: Ethiopia, Uganda, DRC and Burundi, E and southern Africa.
Note: A variable species, typically with a tomentose base, fairly long racemes with grey spikelets and a cuff-like lower glume.