Cenchrus ciliaris

Shortly rhizomatous, tussock-forming perennial or annual. Culms ascending, often branching, to 60 (–120) cm high. Leaves basal and cauline, pilose to glabrous; blade flat to inrolled, to 25 cm long and 10 mm wide; sheath keeled; ligule 0.5–2 mm long. Inflorescence a spike, or spike-like raceme 3–14 cm long, the axis angular and flexuose; involucre sessile or shortly (to 1 mm) pedicellate, 6–12 mm long (a single bristle usually longer than others, to 15 mm), bristles free, in 2 or 3 series, the outer series scabrous, finer and shorter than the inner ciliate bristles, cilia 1–2 mm long. Spikelets 1 or 2(–3) per involucre, 2–5 mm long; glumes similar, ovate, 1.5–3 mm long, acute, membranous,1-nerved, or the upper sometimes 3-nerved; lower floret sterile, the lemma 5-nerved, as long as the spikelet, palea absent or rudimentary; upper floret fertile, the lemma 5-nerved and palea 2-nerved, both equal to the sterile lemma.