Shrubby bamboos. Rhizomes leptomorph, with running underground stems. Culms pluricaespitose, less than 1 m, distally flexuose; internodes flattened on branching sides; nodes 2-ridged. Branches 3–5, slender, often without secondary branchlets, usually with persistent membranous prophylls and branch sheaths. Culm sheaths deciduous, papery, transverse veins distinct; auricles absent; ligule well developed; blade lanceolate to subulate, small. Leaves usually solitary on each branchlet; sheaths contiguous with branchlets, thickened, petiole-like, rarely 2 or more with median sheaths exceeding proximal and distal ones; auricles absent; ligule usually long, conical and highly involute in solitary or upper leaves; blade very broadly lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, transverse veins distinct. Inflorescence bracteate, partially iterauctant, composed of 1-spikeleted racemes gathered in fascicles with a spathate prophyll, 0 or 1 empty bract, and 0–3 gemmiferous bracts. Spikelets 2–7-flowered, lower 1 or 2 fertile, upper ones sterile. Glumes usually absent; lemma membranous, broadly lanceolate, apex acuminate; palea 2-keeled; lodicules 3, narrowly obovate, membranous. Stamens 3. Style 1; stigmas 3, plumose. Fruit a caryopsis.
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