Tufted annual; culms 15-85 cm high, erect or geniculately ascending. Leaf-blades usually folded, 5-35 cm long, 2.5-6 mm wide. Inflorescence digitate, composed of 1-10(17) slender ascending spikes 3.5-15 cm long, a few spikes often set below the main apical cluster. Spikelets 3-9-flowered, elliptic, 4.6-7.8 mm long; lower glume 1.1-3.2(3.9) mm long. upper glume 1.8-4.7 mm long; lemmas lanceolate, 2.4-4.8 mm long, acute to subacute.

Fl. & Fr. Per.: June-August.

Type: ? illustration in Burman, Thes. Zeyl. 106, t.47/1.1737.

Distribution: Pakistan (Sind, N.W.F.P. & Kashmir); tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world.

Crab or Crowfoot Grass is considered in some regions to be a good fodder grass. It is highly esteemed as a pasture grass in Australia and North America.