Often stout, strongly rhizomatous perennials. Leaf-sheath firm, open. Ligule a dense fringe of fine straight hairs. Leaf-blade coriaceous, flat or involute. Inflorescence of 2-many congested persistent spike-like racemes arranged racemosely along an axis; spikes bearing spikelets in 2 rows on one side of 3-angled rachis, rachis usually prolonged beyond spikelets. Spikelets 1-flowered, very rarely 2-flowered, strongly laterally compressed, falling entire with glumes; rachilla not prolonged. Glumes unequal, firmly membranous, strongly keeled, acute to shortly awned; lower shorter, 1-3-nerved, upper usually > floret, 1-nerved or obscurely 3-(6)-nerved. Lemma keeled, firmly membranous with wide margins, 1-3-nerved, sometimes with additional indistinct nerves, tapering to narrow, subacute, awnless apex. Palea ≈ lemma, 2-nerved. Lodicules 0, or sometimes 2. Stamens 3. Caryopsis fusiform; embryo large; hilum elliptic. Fig. 19.