Rhizomatous perennial up to 30 cm high; leaves conspicuously distichous (especially on sterile shoots), inrolled, stiff and pungent. Panicle spike-like, untidily cylindrical, 2–10 cm long, the branches closely appressed. Spikelets 1.7–2.6 mm long; lower glume lanceolate, acute, 1.2–2 mm long, but variable even within the panicle; upper glume narrowly ovate-elliptic, acute, as long as the spikelet; lemma similar to the upper glume and equal to it; anthers 3, 1–1.3 mm long. Grain subglobose, c. 0.7 mm in diam.
Range
S2, 3 tropics and subtropics throughout the world.
Altitude range
sea-level.
Distribution
SOMALIA Pignatti s.n.; Rose Innes 749.
Notes
Doubtfully distinct from the Mediterranean S. arenarius (Gouan) Duval-Jouve (syn. S. pungens (Schreb.) Kunth) which has an ovate rather than cylindrical panicle embraced below by the uppermost sheath.
