Perennials, caespitose, bisexual. Culms tuberous, with bases somewhat swollen, covered with scalelike sheaths bearing dense woolly hairs. Ligule a jagged membrane, often with dense marginal tufts of cilia. Inflorescences sparsely paniculate. Spikelets pedicellate, laterally compressed, with (3–) 5–6 (–8) bisexual florets, disarticulating between florets; rachilla prolonged beyond bisexual florets with incomplete florets. Glumes 2, ±equal, awnless, rounded on back; lower glume 13–19-nerved; upper glume 11–13-nerved. Callus short. Lemma 2-lobed, with 1 geniculate awn arising between the long, glabrous lemma lobes; body about as broad as long, rounded on back, with a clear germination flap, 9–13-nerved, hairy in 2 transverse rows. Palea exceeding lemma body, bent across fruit, becoming hard and shining. Hilum short. Embryo waisted.
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