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Herbs, annual or perennial, cespitose or not, rhizomatous or not. Culms solitary or not, trigonous. Leaves basal; ligules absent; blades flat or V-shaped in cross section. Inflorescences terminal, rarely pseudolateral, spikes 1–4, sessile, densely ovoid or cylindric; spikelets [15–]40–150 per spike, not readily distinguished by unaided eye; involucral bracts 2–4, spreading or erect, leaflike. Spikelets: scales 2(–3), distichous; proximal scale subtending bisexual flower; distal scale empty or subtending 1–2 stamens, often abortive. Flowers bisexual or staminate; perianth absent; stamens 1–3; styles linear, 2-fid, base persistent. Achenes biconvex, laterally compressed.
Annual or perennial, usually glabrous; culms triangular, leafy below, the leaves sometimes reduced to sheaths; inflorescence terminal, of several confluent sessile heads, usually surrounded by a leafy involucre; spikelets of 3-4, 2-ranked scales, only the middle one fertile; bristles none; stamens 1-3; style bifid; achene lenticu-lar.
