Graminae 

Common names: Andropogon

Description

Densely tufted perennial often from a short rhizome; culms thin 15-100 cm high with the leaves mostly crowded at the base, thus the plant often forming dense swards. Leaf-blades flat linear 3-10 cm long and l-4 mm wide. Inflorescence of terminal usually paired racemes each 3-7 cm long. Internodes and pedicels linear, ciliate at both margins. Sessile spikelets scaberulous 6.4-l l mm long, lower glume lanceolate with a membranous tip, convex on the back but with a shallow median hollow and 4-10-nerved between the keels, awn of the lemma 6-20 mm long. Pedicelled spikelets scaberulous, lanceolate, 5.5-10 mm long, acute to acuminate.

Habitat

Open grassland on black clay.

Altitude range

± 1760 m.

Distribution

Kenya; also from United Republic of Tanzania, Ethiopia and Somalia.

Use

Said to be grazed.

Edited by: F. Guiso Gallisai
Information taken from: Ibrahim, K. M., Kabuye, C. H. S. 1988. An illustrated manual of Kenya grasses. Rome, FAO. 765 pp.