Very small to medium-sized with rhizomes monopodial, short or elongated. Culms dense or diffuse, sometimes very slender; nodes prominent; internodes terete, ± hollow, fistula sometimes very narrow. Culm-sheaths ± persistent, < internodes, concolorous; auricles 0; oral bristles glabrous. Branches usually 1-7 per node. Leaf-sheath with oral bristles usually present (at least when young). Leaf-blade usually conspicuously tessellate, abaxially usually partly glaucous or glauc-esent and partly green. Inflorescence racemose or paniculate. Spikelets 5-13-flowered. Lodicules 3, ciliate. Stamens 3. Stigmas 3.