Cynodon ternatus Hochstetter ex A. Richard, Tent. Fl. Abyss. 2:405. 1851; Panicum ternatum (Hochstetter ex A. Richard) Hochstetter ex Steudel; Paspalum ternatum (Hochstetter ex A. Richard) J. D. Hooker; Syntherisma ternata (Hochstetter ex A. Richard) Newbold.

Annual. Culms loosely tufted, ascending, up to 100 cm tall, glabrous or pilose with long fine hairs below inflorescence. Leaf sheaths puberulous or glabrous; leaf blades linear, 10–30 × 0.6–1 cm, adaxial surface papillose-pilose, base subrounded, apex acuminate; ligule 1–2 mm. Inflorescence subdigitate, axis villous; racemes 3–8, 10–20 cm; spikelets ternate; rachis broadly winged, ca. 1 mm broad, midrib low, margins scabrous; pedicel tips hispid with 0.2–0.8 mm setae. Spikelets oblong-lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, 1.8–2.5 mm, pale grayish green, hairs clavate; lower glume absent; upper glume 2/3–3/4 as long as spikelet, narrower than spikelet, intervein spaces and margins appressed-pilose to hirsute; lower lemma as long as spikelet, 5-veined with a central group of 3 and 2 marginal veins, intervein spaces and margins hairy; upper lemma blackish brown at maturity, as long as spikelet. Anthers 0.4–0.8 mm. Fl. and fr. Jun–Sep. 2n = 36.

This species is a good forage grass.

Grassy, weedy places. Guangxi, Guizhou, Hong Kong, Sichuan, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand; Africa; introduced in America and Australia].