A variable perennial grass of damp places, or swamps, dispersed throughout the Region from Mauritania to W Cameroons, and in N Africa to Zambia and Angola, and across Asia to the Philippines.Growing in wet sites, it evokes names in Hausa (see above) connecting it with marsh and stream. In N Ghana it may produce a good sound ground carpet and good fodder (3). It is grazed by all stock in Senegal, especially by cattle (1), but there are records elsewhere of inferior utility (N Dahomey: not appreciated by stock, 4; N Nigeria: fodder of poor quality, 5). When culms are produced they reach up to 1 m long and are used for thatching (2).