Loudetia arundinacea Hochst. ex Steud.

Robust tufted perennial; culms 60–300 cm. high, glabrous or hairy, sometimes bearded at the nodes; basal leaf-sheaths ± silky pubescent below, rarely woolly tomentose.. Leaf-blades linear, flat, 20–70 cm. long, 3–15 mm. wide.. Panicle narrowly oblong, 18–70 cm. long, lax or contracted, the branches conspicuously whorled.. Spikelets narrowly lanceolate, 6–13 mm. long, brown, glabrous or the glumes setose from dark coloured tubercles; lower glume ovate, 1/3-1/2 as long as the spikelet, obtuse; upper glume lanceolate, as long as the spikelet, narrowly truncate; lower lemma similar to the upper glume; upper lemma 4–7 mm. long, pubescent, bidentate (teeth 0.7–1 mm. long); awn 2–4 cm. long; callus oblong, 0.5–1 mm. long, truncate or slightly emarginate; stamens 2.

Dry soils, commonly associated with inselbergs and rock outcrops.