Perennials, tufted or rhizomatous; branching extravaginal or rarely intravaginal. Ligule membranous, truncate or rounded, often ciliolate. Leaf-blades linear, narrow, flat or involute. Inflorescence a contracted to lax panicle. Spikelets 2-several-flowered, laterally compressed; disarticulation above glumes and between lemmas; rachilla usually hairy, prolonged. Glumes unequal to subequal, < to ≈ spikelets, keeled, not awned; lower 1-3-nerved, upper 3-5-nerved. Lemma membranous to thinly coriaceous, 3-7-nerved, keeled, bidentate or bicuspid, dorsally awned from upper ½; awn reflexed, or geniculate (not N.Z. spp.). Palea gaping, silvery, thinner than lemma, 2-keeled. Callus short, hairy. Flowers ☿, chasmogamous or cleistogamous. Lodicules 2, membranous, glabrous or ciliate. Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous; styles free. Caryopsis slightly compressed laterally; embryo small; hilum short; endosperm liquid. Fig. 10.