Tufted annual; culms 10-100 cm high, often ascending from prostrate rooting base. Leaf-blades linear to narrowly lanceolate, 2-15 cm long, 5-15 mm wide, subamplexicaul, coarse, glabrous or pubescent, the margins tuberculate-ciliate at least near the base. Inflorescence of 2-7 (-10 or rarely more) racemes on a common axis 1-6 cm long; racemes 1-6 cm long, bearing single or sometimes paired spikelets on a narrowly winged rhachis, the pedicels (sometimes also the rhachis) with white hairs. Spikelets elliptic, (2.5-) 3.5-4.5 (-5) mm long, acute; lower glume ovate, a quarter to almost half as long as the spikelet, very rarely more, 3-5-nerved, obtuse to subacute; upper glume often with crossveins, glabrous or pubescent lower lemma sometimes with a setose fringe; upper lemma rugulose with a mucro 0.3-1 mm long.

Fl. & Fr. Per.: July-September.

Type: Mauritius, de Jussieu..

Distribution: Pakistan (Punjab, N.W.F.P. & Kashmir); Sudan to Yemen and south-wards to South Africa: India; introduced to Australia.

In common with several other species of the genus, Urochloa panicoides has forms with glabrous, pubescent or setosely fringed spikelets; they appear to be of no taxonomic importance.

This is an excellent fodder grass for both cattle and horses, ascending to about 1500 m,mainly in cultivated land.