Part 40
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).
881 =Sacciolepis 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).
882 =Setaria 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.
A good fodder grass.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River); Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (near Gumango Hill and Boddo River).
883 =Tricholæna rosea= _Nees._
Perennial or annual grass, stems loosely tufted, bent at the joints, up to 1½ ft. high. Leaves narrow, 2-8 in. by 1/12-⅓ in. long, tapering to a very fine point, sometimes tinged with red. Inflorescence a loose panicle 3-6 in. long, spikelets in tufts surrounded by fine, long, silky hairs without tubercles at the base, the whole often very pinkish in colour, upper glume frequently shortly awned, and swollen at or below the middle.
A good fodder grass.
Red Sea Prov. (Tokar and Erkowit); Nubia (Between Korosko and Berber); Fung Prov. (Abdin); Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam land).
=T. sphacelata= _Benth._
Perennial grass up to 3 ft. high, stems creeping at the base, and rooting from the nodes. Leaves rather scanty, long, tapering to a very fine tip. Inflorescence a loose panicle up to 6 in. long (larger than _T. rosea_). Spikelets (more swollen at the base than _T. rosea_) and surrounded by long white or pink, silky hairs, those on the outer glumes being tubercular at the base.
A good fodder grass.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
=T. leucantha= _Hochst._
Perennial grass up to 2 ft. high, stems wiry, sometimes branched from the base. Panicle up to 4 in. long, loose and somewhat scaly, often narrow. Spikelets narrow, not basally swollen, lanceolate, generally whitish, hairs long, white, silky, not tubercular at the base.
Red Sea Prov. (Lat. 21° N.).
=T. micrantha= _Schrad._
Tufted perennial with wiry stems, up to 2 ft. high. Panicle narrow, up to 3 in. long. Spikelets less hairy than above species, hairs tubercular at the base, outer glumes broader than _T. leucantha_, generally white in colour.
Red Sea Prov. (South of Tokar).
884 =Melinis minutiflora= _P. Beauv._
Perennial grass up to 3 ft. high, ascending from a prostrate, slender, much branched base. The whole plant is finely hairy with glandular hairs. Leaves 2-6 in. long by 1/5 to ⅓ in. broad, fine tapering. Panicle 4-8 in. long, narrow, axis and branches very slender, branchlets and stalks of spikelets hair-like. Spikelets 1/12 in. long, purplish, awn fine, ½ in. long.
Recommended as an excellent fodder grass. The glandular hairs secrete an oil which smells rather like Cummin; this is said to be repellant to the tse-tse fly.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River District).
885 =Anthephora elegans= _Schrad._
Perennial or annual grass up to 4 ft. high, stems erect, stout, striate. Leaves very narrow, long tapering; ligule prominent, scale-like. Inflorescence a long, narrow, cylindrical spike. Clusters of spikelets spiny with outer glumes hardened and scale-like, pressed against central axis. Spikelets smooth, pale green or yellow.
A useful fodder grass.
Darfur Prov. (Kulme).
=A. Hochstetteri= _Nees._
Perennial, similar in habit to above. Rhizome very short. Spike dark coloured, glumes narrower, tailed and hairy.
Nubia (between Korosko and Berber); Fung Prov. (opposite Zamarka).
886 =Pennisetum polystachyum= _Schult._
Erect, handsome, annual grass about 2 ft. tall. Spikes up to 6 in. long, cylindrical, continuous, with bristles up to 1½ in. in diameter, purplish-brown in colour. Anther tips not bearded, bristles slender, all free to the base, the inner copiously hairy.
A good fodder grass.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
=P. near P. polystachyum= _Schultes._
Similar to above, spikes smaller, more compressed.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Darfur Prov. (J. Marra, (9,000 ft.).
=P. pedicellatum= _Trin._
Erect, handsome, annual grass about 2½ ft. high; spikes 2-5 in. long, cylindrical, more or less interrupted, the spikelets being in small clusters. Bristles copious, fine, densely hairy.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); White Nile Prov. (Jebel Arashkol); Kordofan Prov. (Obeid to Mulbes); Darfur Prov.; Mongalla Prov. (Bari country).
=P. cf. P. pedicellatum= _Trin._
Similar to above, spikelets densely hairy, clusters large.
Darfur Prov. (Zalingei).
=P. Schweinfurthii= _Pilger._
Erect grass with stout stems and strongly ribbed leaves about 1 in. broad, long tapering to a fine point. Inflorescence at first enclosed in a sheath, finally up to 6 in. long, interrupted. Spikelets in clusters of 3-12, glumes hard, chaffy, with blunt ends. Bristles few, rough.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).
=P. pentastachyum= _Hochst._
Tall annual grass with stout stems up to 4-5 ft. high. Spike cylindrical, up to 6 in. long (variable). Bristles feathery, not much exceeding the spikelets, which are long stalked.
Kordofan Prov.
=P. orientale= _Rich._
Perennial 2-6 ft. high, erect or ascending from a densely tufted, often stout, creeping rootstock. Spike 5-16 in. long, more or less lax. Bristles much longer than the spikelet, fine, feathery, purplish. Spikelets sessile or shortly stalked.
Red Sea Prov. (Lat. 21° N.).
=P. unisetum= _Benth._ MUGHREIB (Fung)—Arab.
Perennial, 3-12 ft. high, branched particularly from the upper joints, leaf sheaths conspicuously long. Inflorescence very loose and feathery. Racemes numerous, ½-2 in. long, on very slender stalks. Spikelets single, overlapping, one bristle at the base of each, rough, not feathery.
Blue Nile Prov.; Fung Prov. (Roseires, J. Moya and Jongol’s Post); Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Red Sea Prov. (Tokar); White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol); Kordofan Prov.; Darfur Prov. (J. Marra 9,200 ft.); Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
=P. ovale= _Rupr._ GASH EL NAL—Arab.
Perennial about 2 ft. high, erect from a stoutish rootstock, lower stem deeply channelled. Spike resembling a bottle brush, up to 4 in. long, bristles stout, rough, up to 1 in. long, several to a spikelet. Spikelets single on axis. Glume 5- or more nerved.
Red Sea Prov. (Suakin and Tokar); Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); White Nile Prov. (Hillet Abbas); Upper White Nile Prov. (Kodok); Bahr el Jebel (Bari land).
=P. purpureum= _Schum._
Tall perennial grass up to 20 ft. high, spreading by creeping underground stems; spikelets arranged round a densely hairy central axis forming a compact, erect, bristly cylindrical spike which becomes bent at maturity; spike up to 1 ft. long. Anther tips minutely hairy.
This grass is known as Elephant Grass or Napier’s Fodder. It is occasionally cultivated for fodder. It is also used for building and fencing.
Mongalla Prov. (near Yei River); Bahr el Jebel (Madi).
=P. typhoideum= _Rich._ DUKHN—Arab.
Annual up to 6 ft. high, stems erect, stout. Inflorescence a cylindrical dense spike up to 8 in. long, purplish. Grain when ripe, nearly round, yellow.
Cultivated as a food crop in most parts of the country. It is commonly known as Bulrush Millet.
=P. mollissimum= _Hochst._ GUNGARA (Fung), EL LUINDA (Kord)—Arab.
Annual grass up to 3 ft. high, often branched above. Leaf sheaths very hairy. Inflorescence cylindrical, up to 4 in. long, often purplish, very dense. Bristles silky, feathery, very numerous. Axis densely hairy.
Blue Nile Prov.; White Nile Prov. (El Dueim); Kordofan Prov. (Takari).
=P. cenchroides= _Rich._ HESKANIT, & DANAB EL KELB—Arab; WIGAR (?)—Nuer.
Perennial grass, stems often bending upwards from a prostrate base, up to 2 ft. long. Inflorescence dense, cylindrical, 1-4 in. long, often purplish. Bristles copious, stiffer than preceding with the bases thickened into a disc. Anther tip free from hairs.
Note.—Differs from true Heskanit (see 887) in that the spines are not rigid.
Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit and Tokar); Berber Prov. (Wadi el Arab & Kokreb); Khartoum Prov. (Jebel Royan); Blue Nile Prov. (Sheikh Talha); Fung Prov. (Bunzaga); White Nile Prov. (Jebel Arashkol); Kordofan Prov.; Darfur Prov.
887 =Cenchrus catharticus= _Del._ HESKANIT & KOREIB—Arab.
Annual, variable in height (up to 2 ft.). Inflorescence cylindrical, up to 4 in. long. Spikelets surrounded by bristles which are hardened into rigid spines and united at the base to form a cup. Spines at the base widely spreading.
Widely distributed in Northern and Central Sudan.
=C. biflorus= _Roxb._ ARDIAKH—Rashida, KUREIT—Hadendowa.
Annual grass similar to above but smaller, basal spines not spreading.
Red Sea Prov. (Tokar); Between Suakin and Berber (Wadi el Omari, Jebel Okurr and Wadi Laemab); Blue Nile Prov. (Wadi el Haddad).
=C. macrostachys= _Hochst._
Similar in habit to above but much larger. Spines long, fine, flexuous, sometimes dark purple, united into a hard cup at the base.
Red Sea Prov. (Tokar); Between Suakin and Berber (Wadi Eremit); Kordofan Prov. (Abu Gerad).
888 =Trichopteryx gigantea= _Stapf._
Tall perennial grass 5-12 ft. high, stems stout, rough to the touch; leaves long, narrow, ½-1 ft. long by ½-¾ in. broad, strongly ribbed. Inflorescence very narrow and loose, ½-1 ft. long. Spikelets brown, narrow, up to 1½ in. long; glumes hard and pointed, single on distinct stalks.
Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Bongo, Dukutu by the Roah River).
=T. flammida= _Benth._
Tall perennial, strongly growing grass, up to over 8 ft. high. Inflorescence up to over 1 ft. long by 4 in. wide, brush-like, dense. Spikelets up to ⅓ in. long, narrow, yellow, with a fine awn up to 1 in. long, single on distinct stalks.
Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Jur, Jur Ghattas, Geneina and Kutshuk Ali); Mongalla Prov. (Kagulu swamp).
=T. annua= _Stapf._
Annual grass up to 2 ft. high. Leaves narrow, 2½-4 in. long. Inflorescence a loose, erect, panicle. Spikelets nearly ¾ in. long occurring singly on long stalks, yellow. Glumes covered with black glands, from which spring fine, silky, white hairs, awns 1-1¾ in. long, fine.
Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
889 =Tristachya barbata= _Nees._ MASHAB—Hadendowa.
Perennial grass 6-18 in., woody and tufted at the root. Leaves greyish- green. Inflorescence somewhat resembling the oat. Spikelets in clusters of 3, up to ½ in. long; glumes narrow and pointed, sometimes purple at the base. Awn about 1 in., with a blackened swollen joint below the centre.
Red Sea Prov. (Jebel Soturba, Lat. 22° N.); Between Suakin and Berber (Wadi Laemab and Wadi Derumkad).
890 =Avena sp.=
A species of oats.
Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit).
891 =Danthonia Forskalei= _Trin._
Woody, grey-green, desert grass up to 1 ft. high. Leaves up to 2 in. long. Inflorescence up to 6 in. long (generally less), moderately dense, narrow. Spikelets under ½ in. long, narrow, pointed, chaffy.
Kordofan Prov.
=D. sp. nov.=
Darfur Prov. (Jebel Marra; Abwo waterfall 8,200 ft.).
892 =Phragmites communis= _Trin._ BUS, BUZZ’AM (N. Kordn)—Arab; RUR, ARUR (Bahr el Jebel)—Dinka; KURR and KWIR—Nuer; NGANZIDUPER and POPUKI—Zande.
Tall perennial grass, erect, 4-12 ft. high or taller, many jointed. Inflorescence large, tassel-like, brownish, branches of panicle very membranous, fine. Spikelets ½-¾ in. long, with fine white silky hairs, glumes narrow, pointed.
One of the commonest species of the “Sudd” region. The stems are used for building huts, and also for making arrow shafts and pipe stems by the Shilluks.
Fung Prov.; Kordofan Prov (North); White Nile Prov.; Bahr el Ghazal Prov.; Bahr el Jebel.
893 =Heleochloa schoenoides= _Host._ GOGHEIB or GUGHEIB (Kordn)—Arab.
Small prostrate annual grass with wiry jointed stems. Leaves few, 1-2 in. long, narrow, pointed. Inflorescences small, compact, grouped at the end of the stems, surrounded by the cup-like leaf sheaths.
Nubia (Banks of the Nile); Berber Prov. (Kalli near Shendi); Blue Nile Prov. (Sennar); Kordofan Prov. (Debak and Sagia).
894 =Polypogon monspeliensis= _Desf._
Annual grass up to 2 ft. high, generally less. Leaves mostly from the base forming a dense tuft. Inflorescence a dense, cylindrical, spike- like panicle composed of short branches crowded on the main axis. Spikelets crowded on branches with a fine bristle-like awn.
Dongola Prov. (Banks of the Nile).
895 =Aristida Cummingiana= _Nees._
Small annual grass up to 1 ft. high, stems thin and wiry. Leaves scaly, almost thread-like. Panicle loose, spikelets single on long, very fine branches, yellow or purplish, about 1/12 in. long. Awns 3, divided from the foot, not jointed to glume, smooth, persistent.
Bahr el Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
=A. Adscensionis= _Linn._ HEMRA—Arab.
Annual (generally), stems thin, wiry, growing in tussocks, from a few inches to 2 ft. high. Leaves very narrow, rolled, thread-like. Panicle narrow, fairly dense, interrupted. Spikelets crowded on short branches. Awn divided into three from the foot, divisions long, column short, smooth, persistent, not jointed to glume.
One of the common grasses of the plains, largely collected for stock food.
Widely distributed over the whole of Northern and Central Sudan, including Darfur.
=A. steudeliana= _Trin._ and _Rupr._ DANABAYA, DEIL EL FAR—Arab; SIMILUL—Rashida; HUNSIG—Hadendowa.
Annual grass about 1 ft. high, fairly leafy. Leaves ⅛ in. broad, flat, greyish. Inflorescence up to 4 in. long, very dense like a fox tail. Awns not jointed to glume, long (2 in.) and fine. Widely distributed in Northern and Central regions, and also in Upper White Nile Prov. and Bahr el Jebel (Bari country).
=A. mutabilis= _Trin_ and _Rupr._ GAU UMSHARA (N. Kordn.), DUNBALAB (S. Kordn)—Arab; TUMFAR—Hadendowa.
Annual grass like _A. Adscensionis_, but growing more thinly. Panicle very narrow, loose, branches long and fine. Spikelets shortly stalked, collected into bunches. Awn not jointed to glume, smooth, persistent, column long, branches comparatively short.
Nubian Desert; Berber Prov. (Wad Ben Naga); Kordofan Prov.
=A. Sieberiana= _Trin._ SUMEIMA (N. Kordn)—Arab.
Perennial, ½-3 ft. high, wiry. Leaves greyish rolled or twisted, narrow (1/12 in.). Panicle narrow, rarely open, spikelets comparatively few on slender short branches. Awns very long and fine, jointed at the junction with the glume from which they ultimately break off, smooth.
Kordofan Prov. Widely distributed.
=A. stipoides= _Lam._ AGEIG, EGEIG (N. Kordn), UM SUBEIBA (Fung) Arab.
Perennial, tufted grass, over 4 ft. high, stems stout. Leaf sheaths often with a flake of woolly hairs at the base. Leaves up to 2 ft. long. Panicle large (1 ft.), very open, nodding, with long fine branches bearing solitary spikelets. Awns similar to _A. Sieberiana_.
White Nile Prov. (Jebel Arashkol); Kordofan Prov. (Obeid, and between Um Ruaba and Eilafun).
=A. funiculata= _Trin._ and _Rupr._ GAU, HEMRA, UM ASLEILA, NUSSA and ABU HAREIB (Kordn)—Arab; EILAB—Rashida; WAEILA—Hadendowa.
Annual, growing in tussocks, stems slender, wiry, 10-18 in. high. Panicle very narrow, lax, branches short, spikelets few. Awns very long, jointed at the glume, ultimately breaking at the junction, smooth.
Red Sea Prov. (Port Sudan); Between Suakin and Berber (Wadi Eremit); Kassala Prov. (Um Adam, Gallabat, Gendua River); Atbara River; Khartoum Prov.; Kordofan Prov.
=A. ciliata= _Desf._