Part 39
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).
867 =Monocymbium 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.
868 =Heteropogon 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).
869 =Themeda 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.
870 =Digitaria 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).
871 =Alloteropsis 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).
872 =Eriochloa 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).
873 =Brachiaria 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.
874 =Paspalum 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).
875 =Paspalidium 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.
876 =Urochloa 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).
877 =Echinochloa 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).
878 =Acroceras 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).
879 =Oplismenus 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).
880 =Panicum 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._