Tufted annuals or ephemerals, leafy near base. Culms decumbent or sometimes ascending, 16–40 cm high. Leaves glabrous; lower sheaths overlapping; ligule membranous, sometimes lacerate or ciliolate or fimbriate, 0.3–0.5 mm long; blade flat, to 3.3 mm wide. Panicles ±spiciform, sometimes interrupted, 5–25 cm long, 0.3–1 (–2.5) cm wide, 1/2–3/4 length of plant; branches 1–3-nate, divided and spikelet-bearing for entire length. Spikelets pedicellate, narrowly oblong or linear, compressed, 2–5 mm long, 0.8–1 mm wide, sometimes cleistogamous; rachilla zig-zagged or flexuose; florets 5–10, loosely overlapping. Glumes deciduous, ±equal, ovate or oblong, 0.7–1 mm long, membranous to hyaline. Lemma ovate-oblong, 0.8–1.1 mm long, obtuse, membranous to hyaline; lateral nerves ribbed. Palea membranous to hyaline; body spathulate or elliptic; keels short and dividing apex into 3 lobes, sometimes sparsely scaberulous; flaps almost as wide as body. Stamens 2; anthers c. 0.2 mm long. Grain subulate or ovoid-ellipsoid, 0.3–0.6 mm long, often ±acute at base and apex, glossy.
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