Perennials, often rhizomatous. Culms erect, many-noded, simple or branched. Leaf blades linear to lanceolate, flat, sometimes narrowed to a pseudopetiole; ligule membranous, often hairy on margin or back. Inflorescence terminal, an open or contracted panicle with elongate central axis, primary branches subverticillate, typically capillary, smooth, bearing 1 or more racemes; racemes short, rachis fragile or tough, sessile and pedicelled spikelet of a pair similar, both pedicelled when rachis tough, both fertile, rarely spikelets solitary; rachis internodes and pedicels slender or thickened upward, often with cupular apex. Spikelets usually lanceolate, scarcely compressed; callus subglabrous to shortly bearded; glumes equal, firmly papery, lower glume rounded on back, puberulous to villous, closely many-veined, veins prominent, raised into ridges, apex acute to shortly awned; upper glume usually resembling lower glume, sometimes keeled; lower floret often staminate, lemma lanceolate to ovate, palea usually present; upper lemma deeply 2-lobed, awned from sinus; awn geniculate. x = 10.
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