Monoecious or dioecious, annual or perennial herbs. Leaves alternate, with floral leaves often apparently subopposite and frequently crowded towards top of stem; basal sheath present; sheath or stipule adnate to leaf blade for most of its length; ligule well developed, frequently bifid; blade linear, with single median vein and fibrous strand on either margin. Flowers pedicellate. Male flowers consisting of single stamen with minute cup-like perianth or 3 minute perianth segments; pedicel short at first, elongating at anthesis; anther mass sessile or subsessile, with 2–6 pairs of microsporangia united longitudinally and dorsally. Female flowers with 3 persistent, membranous perianth segments; carpels 3, free; style slender; stigma obliquely peltate or funnel-shaped.
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