Annual or perennial. Culms slender. Leaf blades linear; ligule short, membranous. Inflorescence terminal, composed of (1 or)2(–4) erect, closely appressed racemes; racemes fragile, spikelets imbricate, usually single, sessile spikelets present, pedicelled spikelets normally suppressed, sometimes a few basal spikelets enlarged, barren, awnless; rachis internodes shorter than spikelets, linear, ciliate; pedicels slender, partly adnate to margin of lower glume, occasionally bearing a rudimentary spikelet (developed in A. intermedius). Sessile spikelet dorsally compressed, florets 2; callus obtuse; lower glume papery to leathery, broad, flattened, 7(–9)-veined, apex broadly truncate or emarginate; upper glume narrowly lanceolate, 3-veined, 2-keeled, margins inflexed; lower floret staminate, lower lemma and palea similar, hyaline; upper floret variable, female, bisexual, male or barren, upper lemma linear-lanceolate, entire or 2-toothed, with geniculate puberulous awn, infrequently awnless, palea shorter and broader. Lodicules absent. Stamens 2.
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