Colpodium Trin.

Small perennials, tufted or rhizomatous. Leaf sheaths with partially connate margins, rarely split to base; leaf blades linear, flat or folded, apex hooded; ligule membranous. Inflorescence an open or contracted panicle or reduced to a raceme. Spikelets with 1–4 florets, glistening; rachilla disarticulating below each floret, extension above floret(s) short or absent; glumes unequal to subequal, upper glume 1/2 as long as to equaling or exceeding florets, lower glume 1-veined, upper glume 3-veined; lemmas ovate or oblong, thinly membranous becoming hyaline at apex, keeled, 3–5-veined below middle, intermediate veins often obscure or absent, veinless toward apex, glabrous or hairy on lower veins or back, apex obtuse to acute; palea about equal to lemma, keels smooth, glabrous or often hairy. Stamens 2 or 3. Caryopsis free or lemma and palea partially adherent; hilum elliptic to oblong. x = 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9.