Loudetia Hochst. ex Steud.

Perennials or rarely annuals, mostly erect. Leaf-blades linear, flat or rolled, not crinkled on the margin; ligule a ciliate fringe. Inflorescence a panicle, open or contracted, rarely spike-like. Spikelets solitary or in pairs (sometimes loose clusters of 3 in L. phragmitoides), brown, disarticulating below the upper floret, and tardily so below the lower which is ♂ or rarely barren; glumes chartaceous to coriaceous, 3-nerved, ± persistent, the upper as long as the spikelet, the lower 1/4–2/3 as long; lower lemma similar to the upper glume, 3-nerved; upper lemma oblong-elliptic, thinly coriaceous, glabrescent to pilose, 5–9-nerved, ± bidentate, with a deciduous (except L. phragmitoides) geniculate awn from the sinus; callus oblong to linear, truncate, 2-toothed or obliquely pungent; palea-keels with thickened nerves, wingless; stamens 2–3. Caryopsis lanceolate, glabrous, the hilum linear.