n = 30 bivalents

Semi-aquatic, ± glabrous perennials, with decumbent stems branching near base and becoming erect at flowering; branching intravaginal. Leaf-sheath light green to brownish, submembranous, folded closely around culm, glabrous but ciliate along one margin and along upper part of other. Ligule 0.4-1.8 mm, ciliate. Leaf-blade 3.5-9-(15) cm × 2.5-6.5 mm, flat, linear-lanceolate, gradually narrowed above, rather stiff, finely scabrid, tip acute. Culm (15)-30-60-(110) cm, slender, subterete, internodes glabrous. Panicle 5-15 cm, contracted at first, pedunculate and spreading when fully exserted from upper sheath, pyramidal; rachis and branches very slender, smooth or occasionally minutely, sparsely scabrid, often flexuous, with long-pedicelled spikelets borne singly towards tips of filiform branchlets. Spikelets 2-3 mm, oblong, to obovate to obovate-globose, greenish or slightly purplish especially towards very obtuse tip; disarticulation above glumes and between florets; rachilla 0.2-0.4 mm, remaining attached to base of upper floret. Glumes ± equalling spikelet, 7-9-nerved, chartaceous, smooth, or sparsely scabrid on outer nerves, especially near incurved tip. Lower floret ♂, ≈ spikelet: lemma 2-3 mm, texture similar to upper glume, ovate-elliptic, obtuse, glabrous; palea similar in size and texture to lemma; anthers 1-1.7 mm. Upper floret ♀: lemma 1.3-1.8 mm, oblong to suborbicular, obtuse, slightly indurated; palea = lemma, of similar texture; gynoecium: ovary 0.5-0.7 mm, stigma-styles 1.8-2 mm; caryopsis c. 1 × 0.8 mm. Fig. 23.