Annuals, usually caespitose, bisexual. Leaves: ligule an unfringed membrane, finely toothed to erose; blade narrow, flat, soft, hairy or glabrous. Inflorescences spike-like, contracted, usually dense, ovoid, sometimes interrupted near base. Spikelets pedicellate, laterally compressed, disarticulating above glumes and between florets, with 2–5 bisexual florets; rachilla prolonged beyond uppermost bisexual floret, sometimes with incomplete florets above. Glumes 2, subequal, shorter than remainder of spikelet, awnless, keeled; lower glume 1–3-nerved; upper glume 3 (–5)-nerved. Callus short. Basal lemma laterally compressed, acute or with a bifid apex, awned, similar in texture to glumes, keeled, (3–) 5-nerved; awn from the notch or subapical, straight. Palea gaping, apically notched, thinner than lemma, hyaline or membranous. Lodicules membranous, toothed. Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous. Caryopsis slightly laterally compressed, not grooved; hilum short, or long-linear; embryo small.
Home