Densely tufted perennial up to 1.5 m high; leaves linear, tapering. Inflorescence a compact head of numerous racemes 3–8 cm long on an axis 6–18 cm long. Spikelets 3- to 4-flowered, 3- to 4-awned; fertile lemma elliptic in profile, 1.3–2 mm long, sparsely ciliate on the keel and margins, with an awn 8–17 mm long; 2nd to 4th lemmas progressively smaller, reduced to elliptic glabrous awned scales.
Range
N1; C1; S1–3 eastern and southern Africa
Altitude range
15–1000 m.
Distribution
SOMALIA Gillett 3197; Elmi s.n.; Paoli 381; Alstrup & Michelsen 24; Rose Innes 787.