Robust tussocky perennial with a short creeping rhizome and numerous crowded basal leaves; stems 15–90 cm long and 2–4 mm thick, triangular. Leaves 10–90 cm long and 5–13 mm wide, flat or folded, rather stiff, scabrid on margin and midrib. Inflorescence an open anthela of rather short and wide spikes, but sometimes rather much congested; involucral bracts 4–8, the largest 5–40 cm long. Spikes 10–40 x 12–30 mm, with numerous spreading spikelets, sometimes with 1–2 secondary spikes from the base of a primary spike; peduncles 0.5–6 cm long. Spikelets 10–15 x 1–2 mm, linear-lanceolate, falling off entire when mature. Glumes 3–4 mm long, ovate-lanceolate, yellowish white with a paler margin. Style 3-branched.
Range
S1, 3 widespread in eastern Africa.
Altitude range
near sea-level to 100 m.
Distribution
SOMALIA Senni 329; Paoli 1169.
Notes
The Somali collections are very young and poor and the indentification is tentative.
