Perennials, rhizomatous and/or caespitose, bisexual. Ligule mostly an unfringed membrane, truncate, often erose to lacerated. Inflorescences bristly, contracted, ovoid to obloid-cylindrical, spike-like panicles. Spikelets pedicellate or shortly so, laterally compressed, disarticulating above glumes, with 1 bisexual floret; rachilla prolonged beyond floret, with extension naked. Glumes 2, equal or subequal, longer than lemma, awnless, keeled, with keel stiffly hairy; lower glume 1-nerved; upper glume 1–3-nerved. Callus present, ±hairy. Lemma incised to 2-lobed (apex narrow, with 2 slender, erect, acuminate or setiform lateral lobes sometimes interpreted as lateral awns) or sometimes entire, 1-awned or sometimes only mucronate, distinctly firmer than glumes, thinly coriaceous, not becoming indurated, not keeled, distinctly 5–7 (–11)-nerved; awn arising from sinus or slightly below it, non-geniculate. Palea 3-toothed, 2-keeled, 2-nerved. Lodicules 2, ciliate. Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous or hairy. Caryopsis not noticeably compressed, longitudinally grooved; hilum long-linear to elliptic.
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