var. vesiculare Stapf. Mature spikelets somewhat inflated, pale straw colour, rather hairy, grain white.
Type FIKI EL MOSTAHI—Arab.
var. lateritium Stapf. Mature spikelets strongly flushed with brick red, grain orange, glume very brittle upwards.
Type GADDUM EL TEITAL—Arab.
Blue Nile Prov.; Fung Prov.
S. Melaleucum Stapf. SHELSHELEIH—Arab.
Tall annual. Panicles large, oblong, rather one-sided, somewhat loose; branches slender, nodding, purple; grain white, as long as the rather brittle, glossy black, glumes; glumes hairy upwards.
Blue Nile Province.
S. Ankolib Stapf. ANKOLIB—Arab.
Tall annual. Panicle oblong, contracted, somewhat loose when mature, branches not very long, stout and branched, sessile spikelets very acute, thinly leathery below and sometimes separated from the papery upper portion by a transverse line. Grain enclosed, almost round in outline.
The canes contain sugar and are chewed. Cultivated. Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Blue Nile Prov. (Sh. Talha); Fung Prov. (Roseires).
S. cernuum Host. DURA SEIFI—Arab.
Tall annual up to 14 ft. Panicle eventually recurved, ovoid, very compact, lower glume leathery at the base, whitish hairy all over. Grain exposed or protruding, dull white, large. Cultivated.
Northern Sudan; Kassala Prov.
S. purpureo-sericeum Aschers. & Schweinf.
Erect annual up to 3 ft. high; leaves up to 9 in. long by ⅓ in. wide. Panicle up to 8 in. long, very loose; sessile spikelets lanceolate, acuminate; lower glume wholly leathery, dark brown to black except at the tip, with a band of soft brown hairs at the base. Awn up to 2 in. long twisted to the middle.
Kassala Prov. (along eastern borders); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).
S. dimidiatum Stapf.
Perennial about 2 ft. high. Panicle very narrow and small. Sessile spikelet lanceolate acuminate, lower glume firmly coriaceous up to half way, then abruptly thinner, the coriaceous portion turning glossy brown or black. Awn slender, about 1 in. long.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).
S. bipennatum Stapf.
Annual up to 4 ft. high. Panicle narrow, oblong, up to 7 in. long, lax; racemes reduced to a single spikelet accompanied by two slender pedicels. Glumes coriaceous, brown, the lower whitish at the base, silkily hairy. Awn about 1½ in. long, kneed at, and twisted below the middle.
Bahr El Ghazal (Jurland).
856Vetiveria nigritana Stapf.
Tall, densely tufted perennial grass, with branching rootstocks and spongy aromatic roots, up to 6 ft. high. Panicle up to over 1 ft. long, with long slender whisk-like branches. Sessile spikelets very narrowly lanceolate, dull green or somewhat purplish with a small bristle-like awn.
Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit); Upper White Nile Prov. (Meshra El Zeraf); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas, Bongo, and Addai).
857Chrysopogon Aucheri Stapf. var. quinqueplumis Stapf.
Tufted perennial grass up to 2 ft. high, with very slender stems, panicled, narrow, 2-4 in. long, loose with the tips of the branches bearded; racemes reduced to 1 or 2 joints. Spikelets hairy, greyish; awn also hairy, up to 1 in. long, yellow in colour.
Nubia (between Suakin and Berber, Wadi Læmeb and Wadi Derumkad, Long. 35° 25′ E.).
858Eremopogon foveolatus Stapf.
Tufted grass up to 2 ft. high (often under 1 ft.); leaves greyish, narrow. Panicle narrow, up to 3 in. long, spikelets pinkish, surrounded by white silky hairs. Awn up to 1½ in. long, kneed, brown.
Red Sea Prov. (maritime plain and up to 3,000 to 4,000 ft. Soturba range, Lat. 21° N.).
859Arthraxon serrulatus Hochst.
Perennial grass up to 2 ft. high; stems from a short rhizome. Leaves broadly lanceolate, 1-2 in. long, ½-¾ in. wide, with cartilaginous margins, hairy, particularly along the edges and on the sheaths. Racemes 2-5, slender, greenish or suffused with purple, 1¼ to over 2 in. long, on a short common axis; sessile spikelet narrow with small short teeth along the edges. Fertile valve awned from low down on the back. Awn up to over ½ in., fine, kneed about the middle.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma).
860Amphilophis pertusa Stapf.
Perennial grass up to 2½ ft. high, stems slender. Panicles digitate, up to 2½ in. long, branches up to 10; racemes whitish or dull purplish with silky hairs. Sessile spikelets pale green, with a pronounced pit on the glume, awned; the awn forming a continuation of the valve, 1 in. long, kneed at the middle.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River, Rejaf road).
A. insculpta Stapf. var. vegetior Stapf.
Similar to above but with 1-3 pits on the glume of pedicelled spikelets; sessile spikelets usually olive green or flushed with purple. Leaves rough and reed-like.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Atbara River (Gerba).
861Dichanthium annulatum Stapf. MALHI (Meshra El Zeraf)—Arab.
Very tufted perennial grass up to over 3 ft. high, stems many noded. Leaves narrow, strongly ribbed. Inflorescence digitate, racemes 3-9, thinly hairy with long silky hairs, pale or flushed with purple; sessile spikelets of the lowest 1-3 pairs staminate or neuter and awnless; awn of fertile valve a continuation of the valve, nearly 1 in. long.
Red Sea Prov. (near Tokar, Port Sudan, Wadi Yumga, Wadi Læmeb); Kordofan Prov. (Abu Garad); Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Khartoum Prov.; Blue Nile Prov. (Sennar).
862Schizachyrium urceolatum Stapf.
Annual up to 1 ft. high, stems slender; leaves very narrow, reddish, the upper spathe-like, enclosing the racemes. Spikes solitary, joints and pedicels short, thickened, with a large slipper-like appendage. Awn about ¾ in. long, from the hollow of the 2-toothed fertile valve, which is divided to beyond the middle. Racemes smooth, except for a silky tuft of hairs at the base of the joint. Pedicelled spikelets not larger than the sessile.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma).
S. exile Stapf.
Annual, stems in bundles, from ½ to 2 ft. high. Leaf blades eventually pinkish, very narrow, tapering to a fine point, uppermost spathe-like, enclosing the racemes, which are conspicuously hairy. Joints up to ¼ in. long, club-shaped, with a oblique minutely toothed membranous appendage, otherwise as S. urceolatum.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); White Nile (J. Arashkol); Kordofan Prov. (El Obeid); Darfur Prov. (El Fasher); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas Zariba).
S. Schweinfurthii Stapf.
Perennial grass up to 2 ft. high, leaves narrow, tapering. Uppermost spathe-like. Inflorescence simpler and much less tufted than the preceding. Fertile valve shortly two toothed, joints very narrow. Sessile spikelets very close, almost smooth, awned.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur, Tokuto River).
863Diectomis fastigiata Kunth.
Annual, up to 5 ft. high; stems slender, kneed at the base; leaves, narrow, tapering to a fine bristle-like point. Inflorescence enclosed in a spathe, branches 2 or 3. Pedicelled spikelets larger than sessile, surrounded by long, soft, white hairs, very different from the sessile. Awn 1¼-2 in. long, kneed at the middle, twisted, yellow and brown.
Fung Prov.; Darfur Prov. (Jebel Marra 6,000 to 8,000 ft.).
864Andropogon tenuiberbis Hack.
Tall perennial grass up to 15 ft. high. Leaf blades narrow, over 1 ft. long, tapering to a fine point. Inflorescence a loose spatheate panicle up to 2½ ft. long, with about 6, 2-4-rayed tiers. All sessile spikelets alike, awns from the sinus of the 2-divided fertile valve, joints and pedicels very narrow and slender.
Bahr El Ghazal (Jur, Geneina, Jur Ghattas, Kutshuk Ali’s Zariba).
A. linearis Stapf.
Perennial up to 3 ft. high, leaves very narrow, sheaths often purplish. Inflorescence small, partly enclosed in a spathe, awn of sessile spikelet stout.
Darfur Prov. (Jebel Marra, 8,000 ft.).
A. schirensis Hochst.
Perennial grass 3-10 ft. high, leaf blades narrowed, tapering, often 1½ ft. long. Inflorescence consisting of stout racemes in pairs, with compressed, long awned (as above) spikelets.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Khor Utrab); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
A. gayanus Kunth, var. genuinus Hack.
Tufted perennial grass, from a few feet to 10 ft. high. Leaves narrow, tapering, leaf sheath often wider than the blade, forming rounded shoulders at the junction. Inflorescence consisting of racemes in pairs; spikelets with long, soft, white hairs. Awns ½-¾ in. long. Joints and pedicels hairy on one side.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
var. squamulatus Stapf. As above, but joints and pedicels hairy on both margins. Awn ¾-1¼ in. long.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Upper Nile Prov. (Sobat River, Nasser); Kordofan (Rahad); Darfur (Jebel Marra, 9,300 ft.).
var. bisquamulatus Hack. ABU RIKHIS—Arab.
As above, joints and pedicels hairy on one or both margins, spikelets more or less hidden by silky hairs.
White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol); Kordofan Prov. (Obeid and between Um Ruaba and Eilafun); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongoland, between Uringama and Ngoli).
865Cymbopogon sennarensis Chiov.
Densely tufted perennial up to 3 ft. high, often reddish in colour; leaves narrow, up to 8 in. long. Inflorescence a spatheate obovoid panicle, formed of more or less dense balls of racemes which are in pairs and each surrounded by a spathe. The sessile spikelets at the base of the spike are different from the rest; the lower glume of female spikelets with 4 nerves. Awn only ¼ in. long, bristle-like, spikelet surrounded by long, fine, white hairs.
Fung Prov.
C. proximus Stapf. MAHAREIB—Arab.
Similar to above, but spatheate panicle narrow, long, much interrupted below; the lower glume of the fertile spikelets with 2 short nerves. Awn a fine straight bristle up to ¼ in. long.
Red Sea Prov. (sea coast, Wadi El Omari); Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Khartoum Prov. (Jebel Royan, Omdurman and Soba); Blue Nile Prov.; Fung Prov. (Abu Naama); Kordofan Prov. (Jebel Abu Sunun); Darfur Prov. (E. of El Fasher and Kulme).
C. near C. proximus Stapf.
Darfur Prov. (Kulme).
C. nervatus Chiov. NĀL. HAMAREIB, MARHABEIB, MAHAREIB, and TEITALIB (Kord)—Arab; SHIREIH (Dilling)—Nuba; NGEINY (Ying)—Nuer.
Annual (?) grass up to 3 ft. high. Panicle narrow, spatheate, similar to previous species, but lower glume of fertile spikelet with conspicuous long oil streaks on both ends of the groove.
This grass is much used for thatching. It contains a volatile oil which has been examined by the Govt. Chemist; vide W.T.R.L. report, 1921.
Widely distributed in plains of Central Sudan.
C. excavatus Stapf.
Perennial 2-4 ft. high. Inflorescence smaller and more open than above, also darker in colour, oil streaks obscure. Base and adjacent pedicel of sessile raceme joined together.
Khartoum Prov. (Soba); Blue Nile Prov. (Dinder River).
C. giganteus Chiov. MARAIRA (Meshra El Zeraf)—Arab; NŪR (Meshra El Zeraf)—Dinka.
Tall perennial up to 8 ft. high. Inflorescence frequently over 1 ft. long, very open, spatheate, and clustered as preceding; joints and pedicels densely hairy; base and adjacent pedicel of sessile raceme joined; oil streaks confined to upper portion of the lower glume of the sessile spikelet. Awn up to ½ in. long, bent about the middle.
Kordofan Prov. (Megenas and J. Kōn); Upper White Nile Prov. (Meshra El Zeraf to Hillet Kaka); Bahr El Ghazal Prov.
866Hyparrhenia finitima Stapf.
Perennial grass up to 6 ft. high. Inflorescence long, narrow, open, reddish. Racemes in pairs, dense, enclosed in a narrow, pointed spathe with reddish hairs. Awns slender, about 1¾ in. long, bent, twisted, and hairy.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma), Khor Utrub.
H. rufa Stapf. BURNUS (Rahad River)—Arab.
Perennial grass up to 8 ft. long, tufted. Spatheate panicle large, very lax; peduncles of racemes up to 2½ in. long, protruding from the tightly rolled spatheoles; spikelets reddish with reddish short hairs. Awns ¾ to 1¼ in., hairy below the bend. Used for thatching and fencing.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post and Zamarka); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo land, Kulongo Jm, Jur Ghattas); Darfur Prov. (Kulme); Bahr El Jebel (Lat. 5° N.).
H. hirta Stapf. HAMERAI Arab.
Perennial grass up to 3 ft. high, densely tufted; leaf blades very narrow, from a few inches to 12 in. long. Spatheate panicle up to 12 in. long, racemes scanty and far apart. Spatheoles very narrow, reddish, tapering to a long fine point; racemes with white hairs. Awns up to 1 in. long, dark brown.
Nubia (J. Waratab; Wadi Arab, between Suakin and Berber); Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit, near Khor Ashat); Kordofan Prov. (Khor Abu Habl).
H. Barteri Stapf, var. calvescens Stapf.
Annual up to 1 ft. high. Leaves up to 1 ft. by 1/5 in. Spatheate panicle rather dense, with long slender branches bearing fan-shaped groups of spatheolate racemes. Awns 2 per raceme pair, up to over 2 in. long, shortly hairy.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Gigging).
H. Ruprechtii Fourn.
Perennial, up to 10 ft. high, forming dense clumps. Leaves very narrow and tapering. Spatheate panicle erect, narrow and interrupted, spatheoles narrow, pointed, up to 3 in. long, reddish; fertile spikelets over ¼ in. long, oblong. Awns about 3 in. long.
Used for thatching and fencing.
Bahr El Jebel (Shambe and Madi).
H. macrolepis Stapf.
Annual 5-8 ft. high. Inflorescence similar to H. Ruprechtii, but fertile spikelets larger (nearly ½ in. long), and awns up to 5 in. long.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
H. pseudocymbaria Stapf. ANSORA (River Rahad)—Arab.
Annual up to over 3 ft. high, showy by reason of the boat-shaped spatheoles, which remain after maturity, and enclose the racemes; these spatheoles are vividly coloured from bright red to yellowish brown. Awns up to 2½ in. long with brown silky hairs.
Fung Prov. (Roseires and Jongol’s Post); Darfur Prov. (J. Marra, 7,500 ft. and Kulme, 3,600 ft.).
H. cymbaria Stapf.
Tall handsome grass, perennial, 6-20 ft. high; leaf blades very narrow. Spatheate panicle often very large and dense, spatheoles boat-shaped, coloured vivid red or purple, racemes protruding from the spatheoles; spikelets hairy, coloured green and purple; awns about ½ in. long.
Darfur (Jebel Marra, 8,000 ft.); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam land; Atasilli Brook).
H. variabilis Stapf.
Tall handsome perennial grass up to 10 ft. high. Inflorescence over 1 ft. long, narrow, fairly open, very similar to preceding, but peduncles rather larger (¼ in.) and sessile spikelets up to nearly ½ in. long, awns up to 1¼ in. long.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
H. confinis Anders.
Annual grass, 3 ft. and over high. Inflorescence long, very loose and open, more or less leafy. Spatheoles boat-shaped, up to 2 in. long, narrow and tapering. Peduncles about equalling the spatheoles. Awns up to 3 in. long, stout and twisted. The whole plant light reddish brown.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Darfur Prov. (Kulme).
var. pellita Stapf. Leaves more rigid and narrower than in the type.
Kassala Prov. (Matamma, Gallabat).
H. macrarrhena Stapf.
Handsome annual grass about 3 ft. high. Inflorescence long, very open. Spatheoles purplish, up to 1½ in. long, narrow, boat-shaped; spikelets light yellow, hairy; peduncle much shorter than spatheoles. Awns stout, about 3 in. long. Joints of stem with a spreading beard.
Bahr El Ghazal (Bongo land).
H. diplandra Stapf.
Tall perennial, up to over 12 ft. high, densely tufted from a short rhizome. Spatheate panicle large, narrow, loose, often over 2 ft. long. Spatheoles very narrow, 1-1¼ in. long, edges finally inrolled, purplish or brown in colour. Long spikelets in tufts on long slender peduncles. Awns finely hairy, 1½-2½ in. long.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas, Bongo, Tonj River); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
H. cornucopiæ Stapf.
Handsome grass, spatheate panicle leafy, very loose and open, up to 1 ft. high, spatheoles narrowly lanceolate, up to 3 in. long, purplish; axis of the racemes produced into a cup-like appendage nearly ½ in. long. Awn stout, up to 4½ in. long, very hairy with short brown hairs.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
867Monocymbium ceresiiforme Stapf.
Perennial grass 1-4 ft. high; leaves often very hairy. Inflorescence narrow, loose; racemes solitary, much reduced in size, enclosed in a larger coloured spatheole which is narrow and boat-shaped. Awns fine, up to ½ in. long, kneed at and twisted below the middle, not hairy.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo land, Gir & Jur land); Jur Ghattas.
868Heteropogon contortus Roem. & Schult.
Tufted perennial up to over 3 ft. high, leaves narrow, mostly growing from the base. Inflorescence a single slender terminal raceme, from 1½ to over 6 in. long. Spatheoles narrow, tapering, about ⅓ in. long, hairy. Awns, stout, kneed, 2 to over 4 in. long, dark brown, often twisted together.
This grass is known as Spear Grass. It frequently causes trouble to cattle and horses, as the sharp-pointed seeds stick in the mouth and penetrate the skin. It forms good hay if cut before it flowers.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Darfur Prov. (J. Marra); Nuba Mts. Prov. (J. Ghulfan); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas and Niamniam land); Mongalla Prov. (Gemeiza).
869Themeda triandra Forsk.
Coarse perennial grass 1½-4 ft. high, tufted, often with a layer of withered fibres at the base. Inflorescence of scanty, scattered, spatheate panicles and long stalks, resembling tassels. Spatheoles narrow, purple or red, up to 2 in. long; spikelets much shorter, about ½ in., with long hairs; awns long, black, twisted, stout.
A valuable fodder grass.
Darfur Prov.
870Digitaria horizontalis Willd.
Annual grass, from one to several feet high; stems tufted, ascending from a bent, more or less prostrate base, hairy, up to ½ in. wide. Inflorescence of 4 to many racemes on a common axis (digitate), 1½-6 in. long, finely hairy. Spikelets continuous, pressed close to the axis, up to ½ in. long, awnless, lower glume reduced to a small, ovate, membranous scale; upper 3-nerved with lines of silky hairs between the hairs on the margins, axis with long, spreading, very fine glistening hairs.
A good fodder grass.
Red Sea Prov. (Lat. 21° N.; sea coast, to between 3,000 to 4,000 ft.); Fung Prov. (Bunzaga); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River); Darfur Prov. (Kulme).
D. marginata Link.
Annual grass, 1 to over 2 ft. high. Leaves up to ⅓ in. broad, hairy. Racemes 4-9, digitate, consisting of small spikelets, appressed to the axils, rather larger than above, also upper glume more pointed.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
var. fimbriata Stapf. More silky than above.
Berber Prov.
var. nubica Stapf. Spikelets smooth, not hairy.
Halfa Prov.; Dongola Prov. (Between Old Dongola and Merowe); Berber and Khartoum Prov.
D. gayana Stapf.
Annual, 1-4 ft. high. Leaves with coarse pale hairs; racemes 2-6, digitate. Spikelets up to nearly ⅙ in. long, with a copious silvery or purplish lateral fringe of hairs, which is produced into a long brush-like point.
Kordofan Prov. (Um Marba).
D. xanthotricha Stapf.
Annual, 2-3 ft. high, smooth or sparingly hairy. Racemes two, one sessile, the other shortly peduncled, or 3-4 sessile, digitate. Spikelets with one transverse and two lateral fringes of brown coloured or reddish hairs.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
D. ternata Stapf.
Annual, stems ½-2 ft. long. Leaves sparingly hairy. Racemes 2-7, digitate, very slender, 2-6 in. long, with spikelets not so close as in preceding. Spikelets ½ in. long, ovate, hairy, hairs with thick walls and club-shaped tips, produced to form a short terminal tuft or beard.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).
D. abyssinica Stapf.
Perennial grass with a long, slender, creeping, often branching rhizome; up to 1 ft. high. Leaves smooth, narrow, strongly ribbed. Racemes 2-9, at the apex of a common axis. Spikelets rather loose, elliptic acute, 1/12 in. long.
A bad weed.
Fung Prov. (Fazoghli); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River, Kagulu).
D. debilis Willd.
Annual, springing from a prostrate, branching and rooting base, 1-2 ft. high. Leaves narrow, small, upper 4 in. by ¼ in., lower 1 in. by ⅛ in. Racemes 5-11, digitate, pale green. Spikelets rather loose, up to ⅛ in. long, slender, very pointed, not hairy.
A good fodder grass.
Fung Prov. (Fazoghli) Kordofan Prov.
D. pennata Chiov.
Bushy grass up to 3 ft. high (generally smaller), with a short rhizome producing tufts of fresh growths, covered at the base with white hairy scales. Stems very slender, wiry, producing barren branches from the lower, and tufted flowering branches from the upper joints. Racemes 6-10 in a whorl, very slender, up to 5 in. long, digitately arranged. Spikelets oval, about ⅛ in. long, in pairs, widely spaced, with long fine spreading hairs.
Nubia; Red Sea Prov.
D. uniglumis Stapf, var. major Stapf.
Tall perennial grass up to 10 ft. high. Leaves 2 ft. long and ½ in. wide. Inflorescence up to 2 ft. long, consisting of racemes (up to 10 in. long), gathered into a panicle. Spikelets small, rarely 1/12 in. long, oval, closely arranged, glossy chestnut brown in colour.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo; Gurfala; Niamniam-land, near Nganye by the Ibba River).
D. intecta Stapf.
Annual, up to 3 ft. high. Leaf sheath strongly ribbed, covered with short stiff hairs. Racemes 8-20, gathered into a brush-like panicle 5-8 in. long. Spikelets very small, about 1/20 in. long, beset with fine white hairs, glossy chestnut brown in colour.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma).
871Alloteropsis semialata Hitchcock.
Perennial grass, compactly tufted on a short rhizome, with a thick basal coat of silky hairy leaf bases or their remains. Stems erect, 1-3 ft. high. Leaves strongly ribbed, very narrow. Inflorescence mostly of 2-3 racemes, occasionally one, sometimes 3-4, springing from the same joint, 1½-8 in. long. Axis wavy, triangular in section. Spikelets loosely arranged, tassel-like. Lower floret of papery texture, transparent, mottled with brown; upper with valve, produced into a fine bristle up to ⅛ in. long.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Gendua River).
872Eriochloa acrotricha Hack.
Tufted annual. Stems leafy, ½ to over 2 ft. long. Inflorescence a narrow panicle 1½-4 in. long with a few, or up to 10, racemes widely spaced on the same axis. Spikelets in 2 series, dorsally compressed; lower glume rudimentary, forming with the base of the stalk a bead-like process, oval pointed, with a fine bristle, up to ⅙ in. long.
Nubia, Red Sea Prov. (Sinkat); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol); Upper White Nile Prov. (Meshra El Zeraf).
873Brachiaria dictyoneura Stapf.
Perennial 1½-3 ft. high, leaves narrow, sheathing the flower stalk. Inflorescence consisting of 3-6 widely spaced spike-like racemes, having the spikelets arranged on one side. Racemes dense, about 2 in. long; spikelets largish, 1/5 in. long, oval, silkily hairy, often flushed with purple, lower glume present, almost as long as the spikelet, 11-nerved.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Kordofan Prov.
B. fulva Stapf.
Perennial up to 3 ft. high. Leaves narrow. Inflorescence of a similar type to above, but racemes 4-12, closer spaced, 1¾ in. long, arched, with reddish or yellowish hairs. Spikelets densely hairy, closely arranged, about ⅛ in. long, oval.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur. Agada, Bongo land, Matia Addai); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
B. stigmatisata Stapf.
Annual, over 2 ft. high, ascending from a leafy base. Leaves broad, narrowly oval with crisped spiny margins, from 1 to over 7 in. long by ¼-½ in. wide. Inflorescence of 1-3 spike-like racemes, widely spaced on a common axis, ¾-2 in. long. Racemes dense, 1-2½ in. long; spikelets closely arranged, 1/16 to 1/5 in. long, not hairy, prominently nerved, pale yellowish.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
B. mutica Stapf.
Perennial grass 3-6 ft. high (occasionally 8 ft.). Leaves smooth, narrow, hairy on the sheaths. Inflorescence 4-8 in. long, consisting of numerous, sometimes paired racemes 1-3 in. long. Spikelets about ⅛ in. long, almost touching, oval; stigmas blackish purple, very conspicuous.
A valuable fodder grass.
White Nile Prov. (Lat. 12° 10′ N.); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
B. brizantha Stapf.
Perennial, coarse grass up to over 6 ft. high, leaves narrow, up to 15 in. long. Inflorescence one-sided, consisting of 2-8 arching racemes, widely set apart on a common axis, which is triangular in section. Racemes usually long, up to 6 in., closely set with rather large (¼ in. long) swollen spikelets. Lower glume small, conspicuously nerved, often purple, clasping the spikelet.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam country, Ibba River, Nganye and Bongo-Land, Gir and Kulongo); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
B. callopus Stapf.
Annual, over 2 ft. high, copiously rooting from the lower nodes. Leaves sheathing the flowering stem, narrow, finely hairy inside. Inflorescence erect, about 6 in. long, of 6-8 erect, one-sided, almost equally distant racemes. Axis sharply triangular, racemes dense, 2-ranked, 2 in. long (the lowest), to ⅔ in. long (the upper). Spikelets touching, elliptic, acute, pale straw coloured, definitely stalked, stalk globose.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo land: Gir).
B. obtusiflora Stapf. UM KHIRR—Arab; AJOAK—Dinka.
Annual up to 6 ft. high, stems stout. Leaves narrow, generally smooth. Inflorescence up to over 6 in. long, very loose, consisting of 5-8 dense, spike-like racemes widely spaced on a common axis. Racemes 2-3 in. long; spikelets stalked, ½ in. long, ellipsoid in shape, swollen, pale yellow.
A good fodder grass, the ripe seeds are edible.
Red Sea Prov.; Kordofan Prov. (Khor Abu Habl, Wad El Ghall, 40 miles S. of Abu Zabbad); Upper White Nile Prov. (Goz el Siada).
B. regularis Stapf.
Annual, rarely over 1½ ft. high, stems leafy; leaves broad (up to ½ in.) and up to 6 in. long, tapering to a fine point. Inflorescence a loose panicle of 5 to many lax racemes, which are about 2-3 in. long. Spikelets long stalked, loosely scattered, small, elliptic.
Nubia (Shores of the Red Sea at Mirza Eleri, Lat. 22° 12′ N.L., Wadi Dimehadit, between Suakin and Berber); Fung Prov. (Shellal); Kordofan Prov. (Um Ruaba); Darfur Prov. (Suruj District and Kulme).
B. glauca Stapf.
Perennial (?), 1 to almost 2 ft. high, densely tufted on a short rhizome, pale green, stems slender. Leaves narrow, tapering. Inflorescence 3-5 in. long, of 3-9 racemes, 1-1½ in. long at the base, the upper shorter. Spikelets broad oblong, slightly swollen, about ⅛ in. long, fairly closely set.
Nubia; Red Sea Prov. (Wadi Omareg, Sinkat).
B. leersioides Stapf.
Annual, 1-2 ft. high, whole plant pale green, tufted, stems leafy, leaves narrow, tapering. Inflorescence up to 6 in. long, very lax, racemes 4-12, widely spaced, short (1½ in. long). Spikelets fairly dense, on a wavy slightly hairy axis, about ⅛ in. long, rather narrow, stalked.
Nubia; Red Sea Prov. (Wadi Omareg, Sinkat).
B. Isachne Stapf. DEFERA, EL KURDA (Kordn)—Arab.
Annual, 1-2 ft. high, loosely tufted, with fine fibrous roots and slender spreading stems. The leaves are smooth, occasionally hairy, 1-2 in. long, by ¼-⅓ in. broad. The inflorescence is an erect narrow panicle, 2-3 in. long of 5-12 erect racemes, which are pressed to the axis and are ½-1 in. long; the spikelets are small, 1/16 in. long, all arranged on one side, and closely packed in two rows, pale green or purplish in colour, with very short stalks, which are softly hairy; the lower glume is reduced to a minute nerveless scale.
A good fodder grass (not the common Defera, see No. 877).
Widely distributed.
B. epaleata Stapf.
Annual, up to 1½ ft. high. Leaves fairly broad, tapering to a point, 2-4 in. by 1/6-5/12 in., margins crisped, cartilaginous. Panicle very loose, 2½-4 in. by 1-2 in., of 6-8 moderately distant racemes. Spikelets widely set on racemes, which are 1½-3 in. long, stalks ⅛ in. long; lower glume ⅓ to ½ length of the spikelet, distinctly nerved.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat and Metamma).
B. Kotschyana Stapf.
Annual, ½ to over 2 ft. high, stems rather stout and leafy; leaves broad at the base and tapering to a point, 1-3 in. by 1/6-5/12 in., stiff and somewhat succulent, margins cartilaginous, minutely spiny, markedly crisped. Panicle up to over 6 in. long, loose, consisting to 6 to many oblique, moderately distant racemes, the lowest ½ to over 3 in., the upper gradually shortening. Spikelets in clusters, which are separated by about their own length, lower glumes purple.
Kordofan Prov. (J. Kōn); Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
B. jubata Stapf.
Kordofan Prov.
874Paspalum auriculatum Presl.
Probably perennial grass up to over 1½ ft. high; leaves broad, rounded at the base, tapering to a fine point, 6-8 in. by ⅓-1 in. Inflorescence of 3 racemes, with sometimes a fourth from the base of the peduncle, 1-2 in. long, axis winged at sides. Racemes 1½-3 in. long; spikelets 2-ranked crowded, ovate, ⅛ in. long, brown, smooth, conspicuously flat on one side, which side is turned from the axis. Lower glume absent.
Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam land; Tuhami’s Zariba).
P. scrobiculatum Linn. var. Commersonii Stapf.
Perennial, 1 to over 2 ft. high. Leaves narrow, up to 9 in. by ⅓ in., from an equally wide or slightly narrowed base. Inflorescence of mostly 2, less often 3 or 1, very rarely 4, spike-like racemes at the end of a flattened common axis. Racemes hairy at the base, from 1-2 in. long. Spikelets 2-ranked, mostly back to back, roundly ovate, dull brown in colour, lower glume absent.
A fodder grass, but reputed unwholesome at the time of ripening.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat Metamma); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas, Niamniam land); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
875Paspalidium desertorum Stapf.
Tufted perennial, springing from a hard, stout, brownish, creeping rhizome; stems many jointed, often trailing, throwing up leafy branches with swollen joints. Leaves smooth, grey-green in colour, and covered with a waxy bloom, narrow from an equally wide base, tapering to a point. Inflorescence from 1 to 6 in. long, of a varying number of short, spike-like racemes pressed close to the axis, rather widely spaced below, closer above. Racemes slender, 2 ranked; spikelets numerous, ovate, acute, touching, about ⅛ in. long, sometimes tinged with purple, falling at maturity. Lower glume developed.
A desert grass.
Red Sea Prov. (Wadi Omari, Wadi Yumga); Berber Prov. (Walad el Assal); Kordofan Prov.
876Urochloa trichopus Stapf.
Annual, forming small tufts, 1-3 ft. high; leaves fairly broad, sheathing at the base, tapering to an acute point, 2½-6 in. by ½-6 in., pale, smooth with hairy margins, or sometimes hairy all over. Inflorescence of 4-9 erect, often slightly bent, plump, one-sided racemes. Racemes very dense, 2-ranked, up to 2½ in. long. Spikelets very close, overlapping, broad ovate, over ⅙ in. long, pale green. Glumes papery, hairy, lower glume developed.
Very similar to Brachiaria, but distinguished by the arrangement of the spikelets, and by the presence of a short fine point from the obtuse apex of the fertile valve.
Red Sea Prov. (Tokar); Kordofan Prov. (Abu Haraza, Katul Gambara).
U. pullulans Stapf.
Perennial, from a short rhizome covered with thin yellowish scales, stems erect, up to 3 ft. Leaves often hairy, rather broad in the well developed specimens, base broad, clasping, tapering to a fine point. Inflorescence of 5-10 (sometimes fewer), spikelike, one-sided racemes, 2-3½ in. long. Spikelets elliptic-oblong, often purplish, axis wavy. Glumes membranous, the lower almost as long as the upper; the short sharp point of the fertile valve conspicuous, not very hairy in Sudan specimens.
Red Sea Prov. (Suakin-Tokar road).
U. Helopus Stapf.
Annual, tufted grass, 1-2 ft. high. Leaves pale, hairy, up to ½ in. wide by up to 6 in. long. Lance-shaped. Inflorescence of 4-7, erect, rather stiff, 2-ranked racemes, 1-2 in. long. Spikelets oval, sharply pointed, strongly ribbed, rather swollen, lower glume less than ½ the length of the spikelet.
Dongola Prov. Nubian Desert.
U. insculpta Stapf.
Annual, grass up to 4-5 ft. high, growing in scanty tufts. Leaves broad and round at the base, long tapering to a slender point, up to 9 in. long, and 1 in. wide, pale, very slightly, if at all, hairy along the edges. Inflorescence borne on a slender stalk, brush-like, consisting of many (sometimes reduced to 5 or 6), erect, crowded racemes, 1-3 in. long. Spikelets up to ⅛ in. long (elliptic in shape, with a short strong point), finely hairy. Lower glume ⅓ to ½ the length of the spikelet, with 3-5 nerves.
A good fodder grass.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Metamma); Fung Prov. (Disa); Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
U. reptans Stapf.
Prostrate or creeping grass, throwing up stems from the rooting joints of the long decumbent base, the erect stems up to 1½ in. high. Leaves broad, lance-shaped, up to 2½ in. long and ¾ in. broad, rounded at the base, acutely pointed at the tip. Inflorescence from 1-3 in. long, consisting of a few up to 12 obliquely erect, slender one-sided racemes about 1 in. long, which are fairly widely placed on the axis. Spikelets small (1/12 in.), often purplish, elliptic (lower glume very small). A good fodder grass.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).
877Echinochloa colona Link. DEFERA or DIFERA—Arab.
Annual, growing in small spreading tufts. Leaves sometimes hairy, narrow, often with dark purple cross bands. Inflorescence up to 5 in. long, narrow, consisting of few to 6 widely spaced short branches. Spikelets crowded, often purplish, ovate or elliptic, sharply pointed, 5-7-nerved, minutely hairy between the nerves. Grain 1/16 in. long, broad elliptic in outline.
One of the best fodder grasses.
Widely distributed in Northern and Central Sudan, including Darfur.
E. Crus Pavonis Schult. KUZ—Nuer; KAM (or AKAM) (Bahr el Jebel)—Dinka.
Annual up to 5 ft. high, with copious plump root fibres. Stems erect, up to ¼ in. thick, spongy below. Leaves 5-15 in. long, and up to 1¼ in. wide, from a narrowed base, and tapering to a fine point. Inflorescence erect, large (4-12 in. long), lance-shaped, rather feathery; lower branches up to 4 in. long, dense. Spikelets nearly ⅛ in. long, narrow, strongly ribbed, glumes shortly awned (⅛ in.) from the entire acute tip, minutely hairy, purplish or dark in colour.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River); Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam land).
E. pyramidalis Hitchcock and Chase. UM SUF—Arab; KUZ—Nuer; KAM (or AKAM) (Bahr el Jebel)—Dinka.
Perennial, reed-like grass up to 15 ft. high. Stems ascending from a long thick abundantly rooting, often floating base. Leaves narrow, 1-2 ft. long by ¼-1 in. broad, flat, narrow at the base, long tapering to a point, the lower sheathing portion coarsely bearded. Inflorescence erect or somewhat nodding, up to over 1 ft. long, rather narrow, dense, branches numerous, 1-6 in. long. Spikelets ovate, up to ⅙ in. long, very crowded, often coloured blackish purple, awnless, but strongly tipped. Axis hairy with long silky hairs.
One of the common plants of the Sudd region. A good fodder grass, the grain is sometimes used for food.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Darfur Prov. (J. Marra, Niurnya, 6,500 ft.); Kordofan Prov. (Birket Rahad); Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Bongo, Tonj, Niamniam land); Upper Nile Prov. (Tonga); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River, Bor, Mongalla); Bahr el Jebel (Lat. 7° 25 N. and 8° 30 N.).
E. stagnina P. Beauv. HELEW—Arab.
Stout perennial grass, rising to 6 ft. from long creeping and copiously rooting rhizomes; leaves narrow, long tapering to a fine point, up to 1½ ft. long by 1 in. wide, very rough upwards. Inflorescence up to 10 in. long, nodding, narrow and often open, branches dense. Spikelets up to ¼ in. long, plump, tapering at both ends, awns up to 1 in. long (often less).
An excellent fodder.
Red Sea Prov. (near Tokar); Blue Nile Prov. (Sherif); Upper White Nile Prov. (Mouth of Sobat River); Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Shambe, Meshra El Rek & Jur Ghattas).
878Acroceras amplectens Stapf.
Annual grass, 2-2½ ft. high, stems ascending from a prostrate and rooting base, or sometimes floating in water. Lower portion of leaf, i.e., leaf sheath, strongly developed, prominently striate. Leaf blades narrow, from a broad clasping rounded base, tapering to a fine point, 3-6 in. long by ¼ to ½ in. at the base. Inflorescence very long and slender, consisting of 4-6 long, slender, branches, widely spaced. Spikelets large (¼ in.), narrow, stalked, distantly placed, pressed to the axis, pale in colour, bluntly pointed.
Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
879Oplismenus Burmannii P. Beauv.
Annual, up to 1½ ft. high, stems very slender, ascending from a long prostrate rambling and rooting base. Leaf sheaths loose and very hairy, blades hairy, lance-shaped, narrowed at the base and tapered to a fine point, ¾-2 in. long by ⅙-½ in. wide. Inflorescence very narrow, 1-3 in. long, consisting of 3-8 small branches ½ in. long. Spikelets crowded, very hairy, glumes awned from the slightly notched tip, awn fine, about ½ in. long.
Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Abu Gurun’s Zariba).
880Panicum Meyerianum Nees.
Perennial, about 3 ft. high; stems rigid, hairy at the joints. Leaf sheaths long, clasping the stem, pale green or straw coloured, blades narrow, lance-shaped, from a contracted base, 3-8 in. by ¼-½ in. Inflorescence an open panicle 3-6 in. long, lower branches 2-3 in. long. Spikelets rather crowded, ovate, ⅛ in. long, often tinged with purple, pedicels very short. Glumes very different, lower minute, upper membranous, faintly 5 nerved, fertile valve minutely pointed.
Between Berber and Khartoum; Blue Nile Prov. (Dinder mouth); Fung Prov. (Singa); Kordofan Prov.; Mongalla Prov. (Bor).
P. maximum Jacq.
Perennial, grass up to 10 ft. high, densely tufted. Stems stout, hairy at the joints. Leaves often thinly covered with long fine hairs, narrow, little contracted at the base. Inflorescence an erect or nodding open panicle, from ½ to over 1½ ft. long, lower branches in a whorl, up to 1 ft. long, flowering in the upper half. Spikelets widely set, stalked, up to ⅙ in. long, shiny light green or tinged with purple. Lower glume ¼ to ⅓ length of spikelet, upper same size as spikelet.
This grass is often called Guinea Grass, and is cultivated as a fodder in various parts of the tropics.
Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam land, Nabambisso River); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
P. trichocladum Hack.
Perennial, rambling or climbing up to 8 ft. Stems slender, many jointed, branched, forming a dense mass, roots often found in swamps or standing water. Leaf sheaths long, often breaking away from the stem, blades spreading horizontally, lance-shaped from a very contracted base, 1½-6 in. by ¼-½ in. Panicle very loose and rather scanty, 2-6 in. by 2-3 in., branches slender, very wavy. Spikelets widely set, often long stalked, up to ⅛ in. Lower glume very small.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
P. carinifolium Stapf.
Perennial, 4-5 ft. high. Leaves long, narrow towards the base with recurved margins and a much projecting midrib. Inflorescence fairly dense, rather irregular, 4-5 in. by 1-2 in., branches very slender. Spikelets rather swollen, very small, prominently ribbed.
Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
P. fulgens Stapf.
Perennial, up to 2 ft. high, forming large tufts. Leaves very narrow, 2-5 in. by 1-12 to ⅛ in. Panicle erect, fairly loose and open, 2½-5 in. by 1-1½ in. Spikelets smooth with a conspicuous bronze lustre, almost globose, very small.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
P. Dregeanum Nees.
Perennial, compactly tufted, with a coat of persistent leaf bases, 1-4 ft. high. Leaves very narrow, up to 9 in. long by 1/12 to 1/5 in. wide, tapering to a slender point. Panicle fairly dense, brush-like, 3-7 in. by 1½-3 in. Spikelets about ⅛ in. long, purplish, more or less gaping.
Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
P. aphanoneurum Stapf.
Perennial, densely tufted, 4-7 ft. high, stems stout, reed-like. Leaves ½ to 1½ ft. by ⅙-½ in., narrow from an equally wide base, tapering. Panicle rather loose, ½ to over 1 ft. by 2-5 in., irregularly branched at the base. Spikelets widely gaping; tinged with purple, upper glume faintly 5-nerved.
Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Bongo land, Dukutu, River Roah).
P. callosum Hochst.
Annual, up to 3 ft. high, stems slender. Leaves narrow from an attenuated base, up to over 1½ ft. by ¼-5/12 in., often finely hairy. Panicles broom-like, open, loose and narrow, often over 1 ft. long. Spikelets large, elliptic, ¼ in. long, on long fine stalks up to ¾ in. long.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat Metamma).
P. sociale Stapf.
A delicate annual, up to almost 1 ft. high, growing in dense stands, finely hairy all over. Leaves erect, 1-1½ in. by ⅛-⅙ in., yellowish green. Panicles 2-3 in. by 1½ in., widely open. Spikelets ⅛ in. long, upper floret dark chestnut brown to black, finely polished, forming a false fruit.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma).
P. atrosanguineum Hochst.
A tufted annual grass from a few inches to over 1 ft. high, hairy all over except the panicle. Leaves lance-shaped from a rounded base, 1-4 in. by ⅙-⅓ in. Panicle very open and spreading, 3-6 in. by 1½-3 in. Spikelets elliptic, minutely pointed, purple.
Nubian Desert; Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
P. haplocaulos Pilger.
Annual about 1 ft. high, growing in close stands. Stems very slender. Leaves very narrow and pointed. Panicles reduced to a common axis and 1-3 widely spaced branches each bearing 1-4 spikelets. Spikelets 1/9 in. long, striate.
Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
P. turgidum Forsk. TUMAM & ABU RUKBA—Arab; SHUSH—Hadendowa.
Bushy grass up to 4 ft. high with stout roots and hard rigid stems, and having secondary shoots springing from the joints. Leaves very variable in size, tapering to a fine point, those supporting branches soon drying and becoming straw coloured. Panicles variable in size, often scanty, branches slender, spikelets about ⅙ in. long, ovoid, tapering; glumes membranous, ribbed.
Widely distributed in North and Central Sudan and Darfur.
P. repens Linn.
Perennial up to 2 (rarely 4 ft.) high; rhizome long, creeping stem very leafy, many jointed; leaves very narrow, sharply pointed, hairy at the base, folded inwards. Panicle 3-8 in. long, loose; branches 2-6 in. long. Spikelets 1/12-1/10 in. Said to be good fodder plant and also useful as a sandbinder.
Bahr el Jebel (Hillet el Nuer).
P. porphyrrhizos Steud.
Perennial up to over 3 ft. high, densely tufted on a short rhizome. Leaves narrow, long tapering to a hard slender point. Panicles large and loose, slender, spikelets 1/10-1/6 in. long, with a long slender point, green or often tinged with purple.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat Metamma); Fung Prov. (Fazoghli).
P. coloratum Linn.
Tufted perennial grass up to 4 ft. high. Stems stout, often shortly creeping at the base before ascending. Leaves 3-12 in. by ¼-½ in., tapering. Panicle open, composed of long slender branches, bearing scattered spikelets on slender pedicels. Spikelets small 1/12-1/8 in., moderately gaping, green or tinged with purple.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).
P. hygrocharis Steud.
Annual tufted grass up to 2 ft. high. Stems slender, soft, bent at the joints, leafy. Leaves narrow from a rounded base, shortly tapering to a rather hard point. Panicles 3-5 in. long, rather loose and sometimes spreading, branches fairly stout, up to 3 in. long, wavy. Spikelets acutely pointed, tips cut off square, green, stalked.
Found in dried up rain pools.
Kordofan (Abu Gerad).
881Sacciolepis ciliocincta Stapf.
Annual, growing in colonies up to 1½ ft. high, stems very erect, spongy in texture, about ⅙ in. diameter. Leaf blades stiff and erect, mostly overtopping the inflorescence, linear from a narrowed base, tapering to a hard point. Inflorescence erect, straight, rather cylindric, about 1 in. long, very compact, bearded, attenuated downwards, branches fused with the axis against which the pedicels are crowded; spikelets laterally compressed, upper glume 7-nerved with a line of hairs along each side of the keel and margins.
Bahr el Ghazal (Jur Ghattas).
S. micrococca Mez.
Annual, growing in tufts or clumps up to 2½ ft. high, stems very slender from a stouter base, leaf blades very narrow, folded, almost bristle-like, up to 6 in. long. Inflorescence long, narrow, cylindric, 2½-5 in. long by 1/12-1/8 in. broad, dense. Spikelets crowded, swollen, 1/24 in. long, olive green or brown, glumes nerved.
Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
S. interrupta Stapf.
Perennial from a short, stout, creeping rhizome, up to 5 ft. high, stems at the base copiously rooted from the nodes, sheathed all along. Leaves narrow, tapering, up to 12 in. long by ¼-½ in. wide, flat, soft, somewhat plump. Inflorescence at first sheathed by leaves, finally protruding, from the few inches to over 1 ft. by ¼-⅓ in., dense. Spikelets slightly compressed, not gaping, up to over ⅛ in., yellowish-green, with darker or brownish tips.
Upper White Nile (Tonga); Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
S. typhura Stapf.
Perennial, tufted from a short rhizome, up to 3 ft. high. Stems erect, slender, leaves narrow, 6-12 in. by 1/8-5/12 in. Inflorescence erect, 5-10 in. by ¼ in., very dense. Spikelets more or less hairy, very dark in colour.
Bahr el Ghazal. (Jur Agada).
882Setaria verticillata P. Beauv. LUSEIG—Arab.
Annual grass with erect leafy stems, more or less branched and varying in height from 1-5 ft. Leaves are thin, flat, sparsely hairy, base usually narrowed, tapering to a fine point, 4-10 in. long and ¼-¾ in. broad. The inflorescence is cylindric, coarsely bristly, spikelets having more than one bristle, the barbs of which are reversed making inflorescence rough upwards.
Red Sea Prov. (Tokar); Berber Prov.; Fung Prov.; Darfur Prov. (Zalingei 3,100 ft.).
S. ambigua Stapf.
Annual grass 1-2 ft. high, with rather weak jointed stem. Leaves long and narrow, 12 in. by ⅓ in., base narrowed. The inflorescence is cylindric, but is interrupted, forming two or more lobes. The spikelets are greenish with 3 or more short bristles which are smooth to the feel upwards, i.e., barbs erect. Grain tightly enclosed in hardened glume, about 1/6 in. long.
Khartoum Prov.
S. viridis P. Beauv.
Annual grass 1-2 ft. high with slender leafy stems. Leaves very finely pointed from a rounded base, up to 4 in. long by ⅓ in. Inflorescence cylindric, up to 2 in. long, not lobed, bristles spreading, 3 or more to a spikelet, with erect barbs, spikelets greenish, grain elliptic, 1/12 in. long.
Kordofan Prov.; Darfur Prov.
S. rubiginosa Miq.
Annual grass of variable character, up to 2 ft. high. Leaves narrow, finely pointed, rounded at the base. Inflorescence dense, cylindric, narrow, yellow. Bristles more than one to spikelet, smooth to touch upwards. Grain large, up to ⅛ in., rather swollen.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat Matamma); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Kordofan Prov. (Khor Abu Habl); White Nile Prov. (Meshra el Zeraf); Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Mongalla).
S. lasiothyrsa Stapf.
Annual grass up to 2 ft. high with slender erect stems; coarsely hairy all over. Leaves long and narrow, up to 1 ft. by ⅓ in. Inflorescence up to 12 in. long, loose, with many fine, hairy branches up to 2½ in. long. Spikelets with one bristle, glumes flushed with purple and yellow.
Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Bongo land, Mashir Hills).
S. anceps Stapf. var. sericea.
Perennial up to 3 ft. high, densely tufted on a short rhizome. Basal leaves overlapping and arranged fan-like, upper leaves narrow, up to 6 in. long and ¼ in. wide, tapering, tightly folded. Inflorescence a continuous and very dense cylindrical false spike (somewhat resembling a bottle brush) 4-10 in. long. Bristles more than one at the base of the spikelet, fine, silky, bright yellow in colour. Spikelets clustered 1/12 in. long.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
S. aurea A. Braun. SANGALA (N. Kordn); DANAB EL KELB (M. el Zeraf); HALFA (Fung and Kordn)—Arab; ALLOK (M. el Zeraf)—Dinka.
Strong-growing erect grass about 3 ft. high, with slender stems from a short rhizome which is covered with the remains of old scales and sheaths. Leaves long, narrow, tapering ½-1½ in. by ⅛-⅓ in., usually flat. Inflorescence erect, straight, up to 1 ft. long. Bristles more than one at the base of each spikelet, and exceeding spikelet by 1/12 in., yellowish to bright orange or reddish in colour. Spikelets clustered, ⅛ in. long. A good fodder grass.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Mittu-land Kaffuluku); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
S. Schweinfurthii Herrm.
Perennial, stems stiffly erect, up to 4 ft. high; leaves very narrow from a narrowed base, up to over 2 ft. by ¼ in., tapering to a long bristle-like point, densely hairy at the base with white hairs. Inflorescence an erect, very dense continuous cylindrical false spike 5-6 in. by ¼ in. inclusive of the bristles. Bristles more than one (up to 12) to the spikelet, reddish yellow. Spikelets solitary, or rarely a cluster of 2.
Bahr el Ghazal (Jur Ghattas).
S. lancea Stapf.
Leafy annual up to 2 ft. high, stems slender, rather weak and flattened. Leaves tapering at both ends, 5-10 in. by ½-1 in. (at broadest part), thin, flat, plaited downwards fan-fashion. Inflorescence loose, panicle-like, 4-6 in. long, axis hairy. Spikelets with one slender bristle at base, elliptic, about ⅛ in. long.
Mongalla Prov. (Mongalla).
S. sp. (sp. nov.?).
Stout annual grass about 3 ft. high, stems slender, erect, tapering both ways, folded into ridges downwards, up to 12 in. long by ½ in. wide. Inflorescence open, panicle-like, up to 10 in. long, branches not hairy. Spikelets with one slender bristle from the base, both ultimately purplish or dark in colour, or at least flushed with purple.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
S. sulcata Raddi.
A coarse perennial from 4-12 ft. high with stout stems. Leaves large, tapering at both ends, plaited downwards fan-wise, up to 2 ft. by 1½-2 in., hairy. Inflorescence a rather dense panicle up to 12 in. long, branches fine, up to 3 in. long, with rough margins. Spikelets with a single bristle at the base, about ⅛ in. long.