Perennials, caespitose, rhizomatous. Leaves: ligule an unfringed, firm membrane; blade rolled in bud. Inflorescences paniculate. Spikelets bisexual and unisexual on the same plant, pedicellate, disarticulating above glumes, strongly laterally compressed, with 2 basal sterile florets, terminated by 1 bisexual or unisexual floret. Glumes rudimentary, reduced to a minute, membranous, cupular or bilobed rim at pedicel apex. Bisexual spikelets: sterile florets reduced to slightly unequal, scale-like lemmas, less than 1/8 to 1/4 spikelet length, nerveless; bisexual floret: lemma awnless, membranous, 5-nerved, sometimes appearing weakly keeled from the somewhat raised nerves, often scaberulous; palea textured like lemma, 3-nerved; stamens 6. Caryopsis dorsiventrally compressed to ±terete; hilum longlinear.
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