Holcus L.

Perennials or rarely annuals, rhizomatous to stoloniferous or caespitose, bisexual. Leaves: ligule an unfringed or fringed membrane; blade rolled in bud. Inflorescences paniculate, loose or ±contracted. Spikelets pedicellate, laterally compressed, falling with glumes, 2-flowered, with lower floret bisexual and upper floret male-only or sterile or very rarely bisexual; rachilla usually with a distinctly elongated internode above glumes and between florets, with lower floret elevated on a markedly curved internode, prolonged above upper floret, extension sometimes with an incomplete floret. Glumes 2, ±equal or upper glume sometimes somewhat longer, ±equalling to exceeding florets and enclosing them, awned or only upper glume awned or awnless, keeled; lower glume 1-nerved; upper glume 3-nerved. Callus very short. Basal lemma awnless or with 1 dorsal geniculate awn (not in Australia), decidedly firmer than glumes, leathery or cartilaginous, keeled or dorsally rounded, indistinctly 3–5-nerved, shiny. Palea tightly clasped by lemma, textured like lemma, 2-keeled. Lodicules membranous. Stamens 3. Caryopsis laterally compressed; hilum short or rarely long-linear; embryo small. Upper floret awn 1, dorsal, conspicuous, short, arising from above middle of lemma, curved or hooked or geniculate.