Perennial; culms up to 1 m high, loosely tufted, stoloniferous, glabrous below the inflorescence. Leaf-blades flat, rarely involute, up to 40 cm long, 2-3 mm wide, tapering towards the apex. Inflorescence of 5-12(22) digitate, loose to spreading, purplish, feathery spikes 4-8 cm long. Spikelets 3-flowered, 3-awned; lower glume 1.2-1.5 mm long; upper glume 1.7-25 mm long; lowest lemma narrowly ovate-elliptic in side-view, 2-2.5 mm long, pallid, sparsely to densely ciliate on the margins and keel, the awn 4.5-7 mm long; callus rounded, ciliate; 2nd lemma a glabrous clavate scale 1-1.5 mm long, projecting from the side of the lowest lemma, different in shape, its awn 2.5-7 mm long; 3rd lemma also reduced to a glabrous clavate scale 1 mm long, its awn 3-5 mm long.

Fl. & Fr. Per.: April-May.

Type: East Indies (LINN).

Distribution: Pakistan (Sind); widespread throughout the tropics.

The form of the citation of this species should be explained. The combination is based on Andropogon barbatus Linn. (1771) which is an illegitimate name, being a later homonym of Andropogon barbatus Linn. (1759), the names being based on different plants. The epithet barbata is not, however, illegitimate in the genus Chloris and Swartz was perfectly in order in calling his plant Chloris barbata, there being no other epithet available. As the citation Chloris barbata (Linn.) Sw. is ambiguous the Code permits us to forget that Linnaeus made the illegitimate combination. Thus, Chloris barbata is regarded as a new name dating from 1797 and should be cited without acknowledgement to Linnaeus.

Chloris barbata is used as a fodder grass when young.