Shrubby to arborescent bamboos. Rhizomes leptomorph, with running underground stems. Culms diffuse, sometimes clustering; internodes not terete, flattened above branches; nodes ± elevated; intranode (3–)5 mm. Culm sheaths caducous or tardily deciduous, rarely persistent, leathery or papery; auricles and oral setae absent or sometimes weakly developed; blade spreading or reflexed, sometimes erect. Branches 3(–7) at each node in midculm, spreading. Leaf auricles and oral setae absent or weakly developed; blade small, transverse veins distinct. Inflorescence a raceme with 2 or 3(–6) spikelets, rarely a panicle with many spikelets, peduncle, axis, branches, and pedicels slender, glabrous, scabrous or pubescent along longitudinal angles, branches usually subtended by a scaly bract at base. Spikelets ± compressed at maturity, several to many florets; rachilla disarticulating below fertile florets, extended beyond palea of uppermost floret, internodes flattened or concave on side facing floret. Glumes (1–)3(–5), transitional with basal, sterile lemmas; lemma 7-to many veined, abaxially commonly puberulent and with distinct tessellation, adaxially slightly scabrous with minute setulae, apex acuminate with an awnlike point; palea conspicuously smaller than lemma or equaling in length but much narrower in upper florets, abaxially minutely setulate, 2-keeled, 2–4-veined between and beside keels, apex obtuse or emarginate; lodicules 3, membranous with thickened lower portion, 5–7-veined, margins ciliate, anterior pair of lodicules usually asymmetrical. Stamens 3 or 4(or 5). Ovary glabrous; style 1; stigmas (2 or)3, plumose.
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