Tufted annual; culms 20.60 cm high, ascending. Leaf-blades flat, 5-30 cm long, 1-3 mm wide, glaucous, long acuminate to a filiform tip. Raceme 3-15 cm long, white vinous. Sessile spikelet 9-15 mm long, laterally compressed; lower glume linear, firmly coriaceous with a membranous tip ± half its length, laterally 2-keeled in the upper half, the keels curving lyrately in towards the midline below, forming a deep slot between them and obscuring the intercarinal nerves; upper lemma with an awn 4-7 cm long, the column dark brown to black and ciliate along the spiral. Pedicelled spikelet lanceolate, 7-15 mm long, ciliate; lower glume with a midnerve, and 2-3 conspicuous lateral nerves adjacent to each keel.

Fl. & Fr. Per.: September.

Type: Yemen, Forsskal..

Distribution: Pakistan (Sind); drier parts of tropical Africa, extending eastwards to India.

A good fodder in sub-desert areas where it springs up in the sand in the rainy eason.