Tufted perennials. Leaf-sheath rounded. Leaf-blade flat, linear or linear-lanceolate. Panicle spike-like, oblong-cylindric or ovate, with densely crowded florets; branches short. Spikelets 1-flowered, shortly pedicelled or sessile; disarticulation above glumes; rachilla prolonged to a ± short bristle. Glumes subequal, 1-nerved, membranous, keeled, ≤ floret, acute to acuminate. Lemma 5-7-(11)-nerved, thinly coriaceous, apex bidentate, or setaceously bilobed, or rarely entire, stiffly awned apically or subapically, rarely mucronate. Palea ≈ lemma, 2-keeled. Lodicules 2, membranous, ciliate or glabrous. Callus ringed by short hairs. Stamens 3. Ovary apex hairy or glabrous; styles free. Caryopsis longitudinally grooved; embryo small; hilum linear; endosperm liquid, or solid.