Infl. a raceme on long lfless peduncle. Fls bisexual. Tepals nearly equal, concave, deciduous, each with an adnate, almost sessile stamen with broad anther. Carpels 3 or 6, ± adnate to central axis or carpophore from which fertile ones, us. 3, become detached when ripe, sterile carpels falling later, if at all. Fr. follicular but indehiscent, loosely enclosing linear seed. Grassy herbs with fibrous roots. Lvs tufted, obscurely alt., linear, erect; sheath membr., open, terminating above in entire or 2-lobed ligule. About 12 spp. of temperate regions, especially well represented in Australia, the 2 N.Z. spp. widespread.