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Spikelets 1-flowered, in groups of 4, the first glumes many-nerved, indurate, thickened and united at the base forming a false pitcher-shaped involucre around the rest of the spikelets, the groups short-pedicellate, falling entire; second glume 5-nerved, narrowed to a blunt tip; lemma ovate-acuminate, 3-nerved, firm but not indurate, the broad flat margins curved around and enclosing the palea. Weedy annuals, in our species, with flat blades and terminal spike-like racemes.
Inflorescence a cylindrical spiciform panicle, bearing deciduous clusters of several spikelets surrounded by an involucre of stiffly coriaceous bracts, these narrowly elliptic, several-nerved and free to the base (except A. pungens).
Inferior glume absent; superior glume subulate from a broad base, its back facing inwards.
Superior lemma cartilaginous with flat thin margins.
Spikelets as long as the bracts, lanceolate.
