Bull. Misc. Inf. Kew 1929: 30 (1929); Gen. Gram.: 305 (1986)
* Annuals or perennials. Leaves linear to lanceolate, flat; ligule membranous, sometimes hairy on the back or ciliate.
* Inflorescence a loose, cylindrical raceme-like panicle upon a long-exserted slender, flexuous peduncle, borne in the axis of the upper leaf, single or in fascicles of 2-3; rhachis slender, angular; spikelets shortly pedicellate and borne singly.
* Spikelets lanceolate, dorsally compressed, membranous. Glumes both reduced to small rotund scales. Lower floret represented by an awned lemma; lower lemma as long as spikelet, sterile without palea, keeled along the lateral nerves, usually extended into a fine scabrid awn; upper lemma membranous, a little shorter than the spikelet, 3-nerved, obtuse to acute, its thin margins almost enclosing the palea. Caryopsis oblong.