Tufted or rhizomatous perennials; branching extravaginal and intravaginal. Leaf-sheath glabrous to pubescent, or scabrid; margins hyaline. Ligule membranous, truncate to subacute, entire, erose or somewhat ciliate. Leaf-blade flat, folded, involute or convolute. Culm erect, sometimes geniculate at base. Inflorescence a contracted panicle, spike-like, cylindrical, or sometimes lanceolate, occasionally interrupted, especially near base; branches and pedicels glabrous, scabrid or pubescent. Spikelets 2-3-(5)-flowered, laterally compressed, third and upper florets reduced, or very reduced and Ø; disarticulation above glumes and between florets. Glumes subequal, membranous, with hyaline margins above, keeled, not awned; lower 1-nerved, shorter and narrower than upper, upper 3-nerved. Lemma membranous with hyaline margins above, (1)-3-5-nerved, keeled, entire, or mucronate, or with a short apical or subapical, inconspicuous, usually straight awn. Palea hyaline, shining, gaping when mature, 2-keeled, apex ± bifid. Callus short, hairy. Rachilla hairy. Flowers ☿, chasmogamous. Lodicules 2, hyaline, bifid. Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous; styles free to base; stigmas plumose. Caryopsis oblong-fusiform, slightly laterally compressed; hilum short; endosperm liquid.

Tufted or rhizomatous perennials; branching extravaginal and intravaginal. Leaf-sheath glabrous to pubescent, or scabrid; margins hyaline. Ligule membranous, truncate to subacute, entire, erose or somewhat ciliate. Leaf-blade flat, folded, involute or convolute. Culms erect, sometimes geniculate at base. Inflorescence a contracted panicle, spiciform, cylindrical, or sometimes lanceolate, occasionally interrupted, especially near base; branches and pedicels glabrous, scabrid or pubescent. Spikelets 2- 3-(5)-flowered, laterally compressed, third and upper florets reduced, or very reduced and infertile; disarticulating above glumes and between florets. Glumes subequal, membranous, with hyaline margins above, keeled, not awned; lower 1-nerved, shorter and narrower than upper, upper 3-nerved. Lemma membranous with hyaline margins above, (1)-3-5-nerved, entire, or mucronate, or with a short apical or subapical, inconspicuous, usually straight awn. Palea hyaline, shining, gaping when mature, 2- keeled, apex notched. Callus short, hairy. Rachill a hairy. Flowers hermaphrodite, chasmogamous. Lodicules 2, hyaline, bifid. Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous; styles free to base; stigmas plumose. Caryopsis oblong-fusiform, slightly laterally compressed; hilum short; endosperm liquid.