Leptothrium senegalense (Kunth) Clayton

Eastern desert, Res Sea coastal strip and Gebel Elba.

Tropical Africa from Senegal to the Red Sea, southwards to Tanzania, Arabia, Iran, Pakistan.

The clusters represent modified racemes, with both spikelets borne at the same level. The lower glume of the first spikelet is usually drawn out into a long tail; occasionally it is smaller and then tends to resemble that of the second spikelet; very rarely the upper glume is similarly smooth and tailed (Latipes inermis), and the spikelet structure then closely resembles that of the American species Latipes rigidum Kunth. It forms cushions in hot desert areas where it is grazed by cattle.

Short-lived perennial forming tough bunches; culms 10-60 cm high, thin, wily, ascending. Leaf-blades narrow, flat or often rolled, 2-10 cm long, 1-3 mm wide. Inflorescence 2-17 cm long, the clusters more or less distant upon its wavy main axis, brightly coloured with purple and light green; peduncle cuneate, flattened, 1-5 mm long, ciliate with hooked hairs on the margins, the spikelets paired (sometimes solitary) and side by side on its truncate tip. First spikelet: lower (outer) glume narrowly lanceolate, 2.5-8 mm long, coriaceous, flattened, ± caudate-acuminate, sharply recurved, the margins ciliate with hooked hairs above; upper glume oblong to narrowly oblong in side-view, 3-5.5 mm long, densely tuberculate and often spinulose, pectinate with hooked spines near one margin, rostrate at the tip: lemma 1.6 mm long. Second spikelet (when present): lower (inward) glume narrowly lanceolate, 2.5-4 mm long, loosely clasping the upper glume, tuberculate-spinulose; upper glume lanceolate in side-view, 3-5 mm long, tuberculate-spinulose, rostrate above with a crest of hooked prickles; lemma 1.5 mm long.

Distribution: Pakistan (Sind); Tropical East Africa and Senegal.

Fl. & Fr. Per.: January-March.