A forest grass, annual, woody root, culms to 90 cm high, of waste places in forest shade, secondary forest in semi-shaded sites, and under plantation tree crops, commonly throughout the Region from Senegal to W Cameroons and in the western side of central tropical Africa, not occurring in E Africa, but extending far across tropical Asia to Polynesia.The grain has reflexed spines on the lemma which catch on clothing and the fur of passing animals. This ensures dispersal. In SE Asia, especially by Indian cattle-men on Malayan plantations, the grass is deemed to be good fodder (1).