Slender, erect, perennials, tufted at base, with wiry ± nodding culms. Sheaths densely, minutely puberulous to glabrous; ligule short, membranous, truncate; lamina rather stiff, flat, margins often inrolled, gradually tapered to acute tip; microhairs absent. Culms much overtopping leaves at maturity, few-noded. Panicle contracted, densely branched, to open with few lax branches. Spikelets 1-(rarely 3)-flowered. Glumes 1-(3)-nerved, unequal to subequal, <, =, or > lemma, hyaline except for scaberulous midnerve, acute to acuminate to shortly aristate. Lemma 5-nerved, fusiform, awn long, flexuous, inserted below tip, ± geniculate, column scarcely or much twisted. Palea < lemma, hyaline, narrow, with 2 close-set scabrous keels. Lodicules 2, oblong, without nerves, ± bidentate, glabrous or with a few cilia along top. Rachilla articulated above glumes, projection minute. Callus very short, ringed by minute hairs. Stamens 1, 3, or variably 1-3, very small in cleistogamous flowers. Ovary glabrous, styles apical, free to base, persistent in fruit and forming a small beak, stigmas plumose. Caryopsis cylindric, adaxially longitudinally grooved; hilum sub-basal, punctiform; embryo minute; endosperm liquid. Flowering chasmogamous or cleistogamous.

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