Perennial. Culms 2.5–5 cm. high, ascending from a creeping base. Leaf-blades lanceolate, 0.4–1 cm. long, up to 3.5 mm. wide, flat. Panicles contracted, 0.6–3 cm. long, few-spiculate. Spikelets oblong, 3 mm. long, purplish; glumes broadly ovate-oblong to broadly elliptic-oblong, glabrous; lower lemma broadly elliptic, 2.2–2.5 mm. long, glabrous except for a few hairs at the base; upper lemma ovate-elliptic to elliptic, 2–2.2 mm. long, pubescent; anthers 2, 1 mm. long.
Range
DISTR. K3 endemic on the Aberdares
Altitude range
3000 m.
Distribution
KENYA Aberdare Range, Sattimma, 14 Mar. 1922, Fries 2407 !
Notes
The distinctions between the two species are very slight and it is possible that C. friesiorum represents a high mountain variant of C. africana. On the other hand it may be the product of polyploidy as is the case in other mountain grasses in which the main difference lies in the sizes of their spikelets.£
