Sclerochloa P.Beauv.

Annuals. Leaf sheaths closed for lower 1/4–1/2 of their length; leaf blades linear, flat or involute. Inflorescence a contracted or dense, 1-sided panicle, often subracemose; branches short, stout, smooth, often bearing only 1 subsessile spikelet. Spikelets linear to oblong, florets 3–8, usually lower bisexual, upper male or sterile, tardily disarticulating between florets and below pedicel, lowest rachilla internode enlarged, very stout and tough; glumes unequal, herbaceous with broad scarious margins, keeled, lower glume 3–5-veined, upper glume 5–9-veined, apex obtuse; lemmas narrowly oblong, leathery with scarious margins, keeled, prominently 5–7-veined, glabrous, apex obtuse to rounded. Caryopsis with an apical beak formed from persistent style base; hilum oval. x = 7.