Loosely tufted annual; culms 10-100 cm high or more, geniculately ascending. Leaf-blades broadly linear, 5-30 cm long, 4-16 mm wide, flaccid, glabrous to loosely pilose; sheaths glabrous to pubescent. Panicle spiciform, linear to untidily lobed, 2-15 cm long, often entangled, the rhachis hispidulous; bristles 3-8 mm long, retrorsely barbed, tenaciously clinging. Spikelets ellipsoid, 1.5-2.5 mm long; lower glume one-third to half as long as the spikelet; upper glume as long as the spikelet; lower floret barren, the palea minute; upper lemma finely rugose.

Fl. & Fr. Per.: throughout much of the year.

Type: based on Scheuchzer, Agrost. 47. 1719, not on specimen in LINN.

Distribution: Pakistan (Sind, Baluchistan, Punjab, N.W.F.P. & Kashmir); tropical and warm temperate regions generally.

Very similar to Setaria viridis (with which it hybridises), differing mainly in the direction of the barbs on the bristles, and prefering warmer parts of the World. It is eaten by cattle when young, but avoided once the spikes appear.