Tall or medium-sized, often diffuse; rhizomes short or long with monopodial branching; shoots arising from lateral buds; culms well spaced. Culm nodes prominent; internodes hollow, flattened or grooved on alternate sides above each node, usually terete below lowest branches. Culm-sheath deciduous, usually < internodes, often darkly spotted. Branches usually 3 per node, central branch small, rudimentary or 0, the others markedly unequal. Leaf-sheath often with oral bristles and auricles. Leaf-blade distinctly tessellate, apex characteristically dying long before remainder of leaf-blade (at least in N.Z.). Inflorescence a panicle, composed of many spike-like clusters. Spikelets subtended by large ± foliaceous bracts, usually 5-13-flowered. Glumes (0)-2-(3). Lodicules 3. Stamens 3. Stigmas 3.