Kew Bull. 34(3): 560 (1979).- Type: Schimper 1553, Ethiopie, Mt Walcha (holo- K; iso- MO,W).
Panicum obtusiflorum A. Rich., Tent. Fl. Abyss. 2: 367 (1851).- Type: Schimper 1553, Ethiopie, Mt Walcha (holo- S; iso- BR,K,MPU);
Brachiaria obtusiflora (A. Rich.) Stapf, FTA 9: 534 (1920).
Regional litterature: FWTA 3(2): 444 (1972); Gram. Cameroun: 250 (1992); Fl. Ethiopia & Eritrea 7: 212, fig (1995); Pl. Sudan & S Sudan: 127 (2015).
Description:
* Coarse annual of 0.6-1.2 m high. Culms solitary or tufted, erect, 4-5-noded. Leaves linear or lanceolate, flat, 15-30 cm long and 6-10 mm wide, margins cartilaginous, tubesculate ciliate; ligule absent; sheaths loose.
* Inflorescence composed of 5-8 racemes, contracted, with the racemes loosely erect and overlapping by much of their length, or the lower spreading along a central axis of 10-30 cm long. Racemes dense, unilateral, 3-12 cm long, compound, scabrid-hispid, the spikelets borne loosely on secondary branchlets at least near the base. Spikelets with 3-5 together.
* Spikelets elliptic, obtuse, 4-5.5 mm long, smooth, glossy, with a cylindrical basal stipe of 0.5 mm long. Lower glume 1/3 spikelet length, broadly rounded ; upper glume ovate, cartilaginous, 5-nerved. Lower lemma male, with palea, similar to upper glume ; upper lemma elliptic, 3.5-04.5 mm long, crustaceous, shiny with a green herbaceous tip. Anthers 3, 2.5-3 mm long.
Distribution West Africa: Nigeria, Cameroon, Sudan, South Sudan.
Distribution world-wide: Ethiopia and Eritrea.