Perennials, rhizomatous, erect or becoming decumbent with age and rooting at nodes, monoecious. Leaves: ligule a minute fringed membrane to c. 5 mm long; blade rolled in bud, pseudopetiolate, becoming inverted by twisting of the prominent pseudopetiole, pinnately nerved with laterals diverging obliquely from midrib and connected by distinct transverse nerves (the intercostal bands resulting in a finely tessellated pattern). Inflorescences paniculate (often appearing umbelliform), with 1 principal node bearing a whorl of 4–8 primary branches spreading with age (occasionally with a secondary node bearing c. 3 shorter branches), the entire structure falling as a unit from apex of peduncle. Spikelets usually in pairs with clavatepedicelled female and longer filiform-pedicelled male spikelets (otherwise female spikelets solitary), disarticulating below glumes. Male spikelets much smaller than female spikelets, with 1 caducous floret; glumes 2; stamens 6. Female spikelets with 1 floret, uncinately hairy; glumes 2, slightly unequal in length, awnless, to 9-nerved, caducous; lemma obpyriform or urceolate-scrotoform, with margins fused except for a terminal orifice through which 3 stigmas and tip of palea emerge, awnless, at maturity inflated, indurate, abruptly tapered at flattened apex to a short beak, with a groove on one side, obscurely nerved with at least 13 nerves at apex (may appear less nerved on sides), brown, puberulous with uncinate hairs; stamens 0; staminoides 6, vestigial, at base of ovary.
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