Biennials or annuals, caespitose, bisexual. Ligule an unfringed membrane, truncate. Inflorescence a single spike, with spikelets partially embedded into channels along rachis prior to anthesis, and disarticulating readily at each node. Spikelets solitary, distichous, the lowest sessile, others distant (but sessile) on the elongated flattened rachilla, laterally compressed, edgewise to axis, with 3–11 bisexual florets; rachilla extension with incomplete florets. Glumes 2, very unequal to ±equal, shorter than to ±equalling remainder of spikelet, awnless, not keeled; lower glume 3–5-nerved; upper glume long relative to adjacent lemma, 5–11-nerved. Callus short. Bisexual lemma 1-awned (in Australia), similar in texture to glumes, coriaceous, weakly keeled, 5, 7 or 9-nerved; awn dorsal, geniculate. Stamens 3. Ovary hairy. Caryopsis: hilum short, round; endosperm liquid at maturity.
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