Mem. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 2: 69 (1812).- Type species: Diectomis fastigiata (Sw.) P. Beauv.
Description:
* Caespitose annual, turning red on maturity. Leaves flat; ligule an unfringed membrane.
* Inflorescence a compound spathate panicle with solitary racemes per spathe. Rhachis fragile, disarticulating solitary and long-villous. Spikelets paired in long and short combination, the sessile one fertile. Internodes and pedicelles clavate.
* Sessile spikelets with dissimilar glumes. Lower glume too-keeled; upper glume with a long awn; upper lemma hyaline, awned. The pedicelled spikelets with a large flat papery reddish awned lower glume.
Genus with one species.