Annuals (not in Australia) or perennials, caespitose, rhizomatous or stoloniferous, bisexual. Culms herbaceous. Leaves auriculate or non-auriculate; ligule an unfringed membrane; blade narrow, rolled in bud. Inflorescences open or contracted panicles; primary branches sometimes raceme-like. Spikelets mostly shortly pedicellate, disarticulating above reduced glumes, strongly laterally compressed, with 1 bisexual floret terminating rachilla; pedicels dilated at apex. Glumes rudimentary, obscure, apparently represented by a narrow rim at pedicel apex. Floret: lemma awnless to apically 1-awned (often caudate), keeled, 3–5-nerved, usually hispid on nerves, with margins recurved, tightly clasping palea margins; palea 1-keeled, 3-nerved; stamens 1–3 or 6. Caryopsis laterally compressed; hilum long-linear.
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