Graminae 

Common names: Animated oat

Description

An annual 30-120 cm high, from a geniculate or prostrate base. Leaf-blades up to 45 cm long and 4-18 mm wide with ligules up to 6 mm long. Panicle loose up to 30 cm long and 20 cm wide. Spikelets 35-50 mm long, the narrowly lanceolate glumes enclosing the 2-5 florets with the articulation only below the lowest one of these. Lemmas 25-40 mm long, hirsute with a geniculate awn 4-9 cm long.

Habitat

Weed of arable land.

Altitude range

2600 m.

Distribution

Kenya; also from North Africa, Europe, Asia, and introduced elsewhere.

Use

Palatable but a problem weed in cereals.

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.