Annuals, caespitose, bisexual. Ligule a ciliate membrane (very reduced) or a fringe of hairs. Inflorescence a false spike, with spikelets on contracted axes (several globular heads in an interrupted spike) or paniculate (sometimes with sessile heads of spikelets in the upper leaf sheaths, or sometimes branches not further divided) with spikelets arranged all around the axes. Spikelets subcircular to oblong, very much laterally compressed, 3.25-flowered, with 1 (.3) bisexual florets, disarticulating above the tardily deciduous glumes, not disarticulating between the florets; rachilla prolongation sharply bent, the extension with usually 2 or more incomplete florets. Glumes 2, very unequal to ±equal, shorter than the spikelet, awnless, carinate; lower glume 1-nerved; upper glume 1.3-nerved. Callus absent. Lemmas entire, blunt, muticous, carinate, winged on keel, 3-nerved, glabrous or scaberulous or ciliolate on the margins or keel or both. Palea conspicuous, semicircular to semi-ovate; keels prominent with broad wings. Caryopsis laterally compressed; hilum short; pericarp fused.
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