Slender annuals, caespitose or culms solitary, bisexual. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Inflorescences single spikes, thin, wiry, distichous, with axis jointed and ultimately disarticulating below spikelets, with spikelets initially embedded into grooved axis but ultimately spreading; spikelets either all bisexual or basal spikelets sometimes sterile. Bisexual spikelets sessile, laterally compressed, with single scale-like glume on outside, disarticulating above glumes (terminal spikelet) or falling with glume and part of axis (lower spikelets), with 1 (or 2) bisexual florets; rachilla extension with incomplete floret or naked; glumes awnless, dorsally rounded; lower glume present only in terminal spikelet; upper glume 1-nerved; callus short; lemma 1-awned, hyaline to membranous, keeled, 3-nerved. Stamen 1. Caryopsis slightly adhering to lemma and/or palea; hilum long-linear.
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