Perennial. Leaf blades broadly linear; ligule membranous. Inflorescences terminal and axillary, racemes subdigitate or axillary racemes sometimes solitary, spathate; racemes bearing pairs of unisexual awnless spikelets, female and male spikelets separated into different zones, axis fragile, especially in female zone; lateral racemes of digitate cluster entirely staminate, terminal raceme and solitary axillary racemes mixed, usually sterile spikelet pairs at base, then a zone with female sessile and sterile pedicelled spikelets, distally both spikelets of a pair staminate, uppermost spikelet pairs sterile. Rachis internode and pedicel fused along one margin, flat, ciliate; callus truncate with central knob. Female zone: spikelet pair dissimilar; sessile spikelet dorsally compressed; lower glume leathery, enveloping whole spikelet, glume body oblong, flanks rounded, abruptly contracted into keeled winged apical beak; lower floret sterile, reduced to a lemma; upper floret pistillate, palea present, stigma single, elongate; pedicelled spikelet much longer than sessile, sterile, comprising only a herbaceous, many-veined lower glume. Male zone:spikelet pair similar, both staminate; lower glume lanceolate, papery, winged above middle; both florets male with paleas.
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