Coarsely tufted perennial. Culms 15–140 cm. high, erect or spreading, slender to stout, the vegetative shoots strongly compressed. Leaf-blades 10–45 cm. long and 2–14 mm. wide, at first folded, glabrous; sheaths strongly compressed and keeled. Panicle oblong to ovate, 2–30 cm. long; the branches close together and spike-like or usually with the lower distant and bare at the base. Spikelets oblong or wedge-shaped, 5–9 mm. long; glumes lanceolate to ovate, ciliate on the keel, finely pointed; lemmas lanceolate to oblong in side view, 4–7 mm. long, the keel ciliate or rough, tipped with a rigid awn up to 1.5 mm. long. Fig. 16, p. 44.
Range
DISTR. T3 temperate Europe and Asia, introduced into most temperate countries
Altitude range
2000–2300 m.
Distribution
TANGANYIKA W. Usambara Mts., Shume [Schume], 28 Jan. 1946, Greenway 7908!
Notes
A valuable hay and pasture grass in Europe, where it is known as “cocksfoot”; cultivated for this purpose in many temperate countries.
