Rhizomatous perennials. Leaf-sheath with or without auricles. Ligule membranous, truncate. Leaf-blade linear, ± narrow, flat or rolled. Inflorescence a single spike with solitary ± sessile spikelets, alternate on tough persistent rachis. Spikelets 3-7-(10)-flowered, ± laterally compressed, falling entire with glumes; florets ☿; rachilla prolonged. Glumes very unequal to subequal, similar, < adjacent lemmas, 3-11-nerved, lanceolate, rounded or slightly keeled towards tip, acute to shortly awned. Lemmas similar to glumes, 5-nerved, pilose, glabrous, or scabrid, awnless, mucronate or awned; awn, if present, apical or from a sinus, straight. Palea ≈ lemma, 2-keeled, ciliate or scabrid on keels. Lodicules 2, membranous, ciliate, usually entire, not or scarcely nerved. Stamens 3. Ovary with apical corona, and hispid hairs; styles 2, free. Caryopsis oblong, adhering to lemma and/or palea, shallowly grooved; embryo small.