Annuals or perennials, caespitose. Culm nodes hairy. Ligule an unfringed membrane. Inflorescence paniculate, loosely contracted to open; branches scabrid. Spikelets pedicellate, laterally compressed, disarticulating above glumes, with rachilla terminated by a single bisexual floret. Glumes 2, very unequal to ± equal, the longer exceeding the floret, shortly awned (aristate) or awnless, keeled, scabrid along upper c. half of keel and on margins near apex, otherwise glabrous; lower glume 1 (–3)-veined; upper glume 3 (–5)-veined. Lemma distinctly firmer than glumes, coriaceous, not keeled, 5-veined, 2-lobed at apex with 2 slender, short, often unequal awns arising from each lobe either side of a stout, longer awn in sinus; median dorsal awn arising just behind sinus, much longer than body of lemma, to 3 times as long as glumes. Stamens 3. Caryopsis not grooved, not noticeably compressed; hilum short. A monotypic genus, endemic to Australia.
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