Kyllinga pumila Michx.

Herbs, annual, cespitose, not rhizomatous. Culms (5–)15–30(–55) cm, smooth. Leaves flat to V-shaped, 4–20(–30) cm × 1.5–3(–3.6) mm. Inflorescences: spikes 1–3, pale greenish, (3–)5–8(–11) × 5–7 mm; bracts (3–) 4(–5), horizontal to ascending at 30°, flat, (1–)3–10(–22) cm × 1–2.5(–3) mm. Spikelets 50–150, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, (1.9–)2.4–2.8(–3.8) × 0.6–0.9 mm; floral scales pale brownish to transparent, midvein not winged, laterally 2–3(–4)-veined, ovate, (1.8–)2.2–3.1(–3.4) × 1–1.7 mm; stamens 2; anthers elliptic, (0.2–)0.3–0.4 mm; style 0.5–0.8 mm; stigmas 0.5–0.9 mm. Achenes light brown, stipitate, oblong, 1–1.2(–1.4) × 0.5–0.6(–0.7) mm, base cuneate to rounded, stipe to 0.1 mm, apex subtruncate, apiculate, finely papillose.

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows on the edge of pools of water. It grows in damp places in the savannah in West Africa.

The rhizome is chewed or used as a flavouring.