Perennials, caespitose, decumbent or erect, bisexual. Ligule an unfringed membrane. Inflorescences paniculate, open but narrow and elongated. Spikelets pedicellate, laterally compressed, disarticulating above glumes and between florets, with 2–10 (–12) bisexual florets, with reduced and/or male florets above. Cleistogamous florets may be intermixed with chasmogamous florets in the same spikelet or cleistogamous spikelets may be produced in reduced inflorescences remaining enclosed or partially enclosed in leaf sheaths. Glumes 2, equal or unequal, shorter than to subequal to lowest lemma, awnless, dorsally rounded or slightly keeled; lower glume 1–5-nerved; upper glume 3–7-nerved. Bisexual lemmas 2–4-toothed with teeth sometimes extending into short bristles, dorsally 1-awned, firmer than glumes, dorsally rounded, 5–7-nerved; awn mostly arising from about middle of lemma, geniculate or straight or curved. Palea awnless and without apical setae. Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous. Caryopsis not noticeably compressed, not grooved; hilum long-linear; embryo small.
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