Graminae 

Common names:

Description

Tufted perennial from a tough branching rhizome with ascending culms 20-70 cm high. Leaf-blades folded, 8-55 cm long and 2.5-5 mm wide, with tufts of soft white hairs spaced along the margins, subacute; ligule a ciliolate membrane 03.-0.5 mm long. Inflorescence of 2-10 subdigitate ascending spikes with one or two below the others; spikes 2.5-12 cm in length, bearing flattened spikelets in 2 rows on one side of the rhachis. Spikelets 4-7-flowered, 3.3-6.8 mm long, lemmas 2.8-4.6 mm in length; grain 0.9-1.4 mm long, minutely rugose.

Habitat

Roadsides; introduced.

Altitude range

1800 m.

Distribution

Kenya; also from Ethiopia, Somalia and Yemen.

Use

Considered to be a weed when found in natural grassland and cultivated leys as it is very unpalatable to cattle.

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.