Glabrous. Stems 2 ft. high, rather stout, at the top triquetrous and smooth. Leaves 3/4 the length of the stem, 1/5 in. broad. Umbel simple; rays 8, up to 1 3/4 in. long; bracts 6–8, similar to the leaves, lowest up to 12 in. long. Spikes 1 by 1/4 in., exactly cylindric, of very numerous spikelets spreading at right angles, rose-red. Spikelets 1/8 in. long, oblong or ellipsoid, falling oft above the two lowest empty glumes, maturing 1 nut; lowest empty glume much exceeding the second, lanceolate, bristle-tipped. Nut-bearing glume ovate, obtuse, 11–13-ribbed, not keeled. Nut 3/4 the length of the glume, linear-oblong, trigonous; style-branches 3, much exserted.
Distribution
Eritrea Nile Land Mount Alam Kale, Schweinfurth & Riva, 1476!Abyssinia Nile Land 8300 ft., Rohlfs & Stecker (ex Boekeler).British East Africa Nile Land Taita; Mount Ndi, Scott-Elliot, 6191!