Description :

• Perennial, tufted
• Leaf blade expanded or rolled; ligule a fringe of hairs
• Inflorescence an open or contracted panicle or raceme; spikelets usually in triads, rarely in pairs, pedicels of triads entirely or partly fused, thus mimicking a single spikelet, rarely pedicels free, pedicels slender, often of different lengths, longest pedicel much longer than shortest pedicel
• Spikelet large, 10-45 mm long, laterally to not noticeably compressed, disarticulating above glumes; glumes unequal, lanceolate, ± persistent, chartaceous or subcoriaceous, 3-5-nerved, glabrous or hairy, hairs usually tubercle-based; upper glume usually as long as spikelet
• Florets 2; lower floret male; lemma membranous, 3-7-nerved, glabrous or hairy, awnless; palea well developed; upper floret bisexual; lemma convolute, similar to firmer in texture to glumes, usually cartilaginous, 5-9-nerved, glabrous or hairy, hairs not in tufts, incised, 2-lobed, lobes awnless or awned, central awn from between lobes; awn geniculate and twisted, usually longer than body of lemma; callus conical, pungent, pubescent; palea membranous, 2-keeled, hyaline, keels thickened but not winged
• Lodicules 2, cuneate, very fleshy
• Stamens 3
• Ovary obovoid to oblong, glabrous or apex hairy; styles plumose
• Caryopsis longitudinally grooved; embryo large
• x = 10, 12 (polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

• Tristachya Nees
  • Nees ab Esenbeck: 458 (1829)
  • Stapf: 452 (1899)
  • Chippindall: 275 (1955)
  • Conert: 296 (1957)
  • Phipps: 105, 109 (1964)
  • Launert: 213 (1970)
  • Clayton: 421 (1974)
  • Clayton & Renvoize: 318 (1986)
  • Clayton: 204 (1989)
  • Gibbs Russell et al.: 347 (1990)
  • Watson & Dallwitz: 980 (1994)

Distribution & Notes:

• Global : Species ± 22, tropical and southern Africa, Madagascar, tropical America
• Southern Africa : Species 6, N Namibia, Botswana, northern provinces of South Africa, Swaziland, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape