Setaria petiolata Stapf & C.E.Hubb.

Loosely tufted annual; culms weak, 20–100 cm. high, the nodes glabrous.. Leaf-blades broadly linear, 7–30 cm. long, 2–10 mm. wide, flaccid, finely scabrid along the nerves, the lower narrowed at the base into a false petiole 0.5–5 cm. long.. Panicle contracted, 3–17 cm. long, loosely spiciform to lanceolate and shortly branched below, the rhachis loosely hirsute at least in the upper part (rarely puberulous only); bristles 5–10 mm. long, slender, almost straight, scabrid throughout.. Spikelets broadly elliptic, 1.5–2 mm. long; lower glume 1/2 as long as the spikelet, mostly acute; upper glume 1/2–3/4 as long as the spikelet; lower floret sterile (rarely ♂), its palea 2/3 as long as the lemma or more; upper lemma rugose, pallid.