Scirpus tenellus Roxb., Fl. Indica 1: 227. 1820; F. tenera var. oxylepis (Steud.) C.B. Clarke, in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 642. 1893; R.R.Stewart, l.c. 96; F. oxylepis Steudel, Syn. Pl. Glum. 2: 110. 1855.

Tufted annual, 12-17 cm. Roots fibrous. Stem 0.3-0.5 mm diam., irregularly angular to compressed, deeply grooved, gery-green, papillose and finely scabrous. Leaves to half of stem length; sheaths up to 25 mm, grey or yellowish green, soft, mouth oblique, margin scarious; ligule 0; blades 0.4-1 mm wide, epiderm cells of adaxial side much larger than those of abaxial side, margins scabrous. Inflorescence up to 20 x 20 mm, small anthelodium of 3-5 spikes or lowest 1 or 2 primary branches up to 10 mm with a small secondary anthelodium of 2-3 spikes; lowest bract to 7 mm; spikes 4.5-10 x 1.7-2 mm, narrowly ovoid to ellipsoid, with 10-20 tightly imbricate, light brown to brown glumes; glumes 2-2.5 mm, triangular, strongly cymbiform, keeled, mid-nerve green, later yellowish, excurrent to short mucro, scabrous, sides nerve-less, brown, apical part finely scabrous to papillose, margin scarious; stamens 1(-2), stigmas 3. Nut 0.8-1 x 0.6-0.7 mm, globose to obovoid, stipitate, reticulate and tuberculate, brownish white to brown.

Fl. Per.: October.

Type: India, SE coast, ”Coromandel”. Reported from Punjab (Lahore) and Sind by R. R. Stewart, l.c.

In moist sandy soil; Distribution: Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and tropical Africa.