Slender tufted annuals. Culms sometimes ascending, (3–) 15–70 (–124) cm high, usually branched and fastigiate. Leaves: lower sheaths overlapping; ligule membranous, often fimbriate, 0.3–0.5 mm long; blade flat and to 5 mm wide or involute or folded, with thick scaberulous margins. Panicles loosely contracted, decompound, usually 18–36 cm long and 3–7 cm wide, scabrous; primary branches often ±whorled, divided for entire length or naked near axil. Spikelets pedicellate, oblong or ovate, scarcely compressed, 0.8–2 mm long, 0.5–0.8 mm wide; rachilla straight; florets 3–7, loosely overlapping; terminal floret vestigial. Glumes persistent, ±equal or the upper larger, oblong or ovate, 0.4–0.6 mm long. Lemma oblong-elliptic, 0.5–0.7 mm long, obtuse to truncate, membranous; keels thick; lateral nerves ribbed. Palea: body spathulate; keels short and incising palea into 3 lobes, ribbed, smooth; flaps ±as wide as body. Stamens 2; anthers 0.1–0.2 mm long. Grain not compressed, ellipsoid-ovoid, 0.3–0.5 mm long, subulate, acute at base, glossy.
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