Description:

• Perennial, rarely annual in desert areas, tufted, rhizomatous
• Leaf blade long-linear, expanded or folded; ligule a fringe of long hairs
• Inflorescence a compact, cylindric, spike-like panicle, usually oblong in outline, central axis terete; spikelets solitary, pedicelled, pedicels remaining after spikelets have fallen
• Spikelet 4-6 mm long, strongly laterally compressed, disarticulating with glumes; glumes ± equal, longer than spikelet, similar, membranous, lanceolate, 1-nerved, sparsely to densely hairy on keels, shortly awned or mucronate
• Florets 2-4; lowest floret bisexual; remaining florets male, sterile or reduced; lower lemma lanceolate or linear-oblong, similar to firmer in texture to glumes, membranous, glabrous or hairy, (3)-5-7-nerved, keeled, entire, apex rounded or acuminate, shortly awned or mucronate; uppermost lemma smaller; palea slightly shorter than lemma, ovate-lanceolate, membranous
• Lodicules 2, cuneate
• Stamens 3
• Ovary slightly constricted below apex, glabrous; styles distinct, finely plumose
• Caryopsis ellipsoid
• x = 10 (polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

• Fingerhuthia Nees
  • Nees ab Esenbeck: 7 (1834)
  • Stapf: 690 (1900)
  • Stent: 294 (1924)
  • Chippindall: 206 (1955)
  • Launert: 116 (1970)
  • Clayton & Renvoize: 201 (1986)
  • Gibbs Russell et al.: 171 (1990)
  • Watson & Dallwitz: 413 (1994)

Distribution & Notes:

• Global: Species 2, Afghanistan, Arabian Peninsula, southern Africa
• Southern Africa: Species 2, widespread