Perennial herbs with short woody rhizome. Stems stout, erect, obtusangular, nody. Leaves basal and cauline, linear, broad, coriaceous; sheaths of the cauline leaves tubular. Inflorescence paniculate, loose, consisting of 5-10 distant fascicles of partial panicles. Bracts similar to the cauline leaves, but shorter. Spikelets numerous, solitary or 2-3 together, oblong-lanceolate, acute, compressed, usually 2-flowered, both flowers or only the upper one fertile. Rachilla short, not or only shortly produced beyond the upper flower. Glumes distichous, lowest 3-16 empty, small. Hypogynous bristles usually 6, ciliate or plumose. Stamens 3; anthers linear, yellow or ferrugineous; connective ± produced. Style slender, continuous with the ovary, the base incrassate, conical or pyramidal, persistent, hispidulous; stigmas 3. Nut trigonous, sessile, indistinctly tessellate, rugulose, or almost smooth.
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