Loosely tufted annuals or, rarely, short-lived perennials. Culms to 30 cm high, unbranched or branched, terete or compressed; internodes smooth. Leaves: ligule to 0.5 mm long; blade involute or flat, not coiled or flexuose at maturity, to 9 cm long, to 1.5 mm wide. Inflorescences to 8 cm long, 2.5–4 cm wide, densely congested and spicate; branches tightly appressed, 1.5–3.5 cm long, bearing spikelets from base. Glumes subequal to normal, 4–7 mm long, 1-nerved, scabrous or scaberulous or smooth; lower glume persistent, acute, notched or entire; upper glume notched or entire, aristulate. Lemma 5–7 mm long, subequal to both glumes, involute, tuberculate apically, without an articulation or pseudoarticulation; groove smooth; column absent; awns subequal, 10–15 mm long, gently curved; lateral awns flattened. Caryopsis furrowed in T.S., 5–6 mm long, more than twice embryo length.
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