Rhizomatous perennials. Leaves distichous; blade flat, often pungent-tipped; ligule ciliate, very short. Inflorescence a contracted raceme. Spikelets 1-flowered, closely appressed to the flexuose rachis; glume 1 (if 2, then very unequal), hardened, keeled, completely enclosing floret and falling with it; lemma and palea thinly membranous (palea sometimes lacking).
A genus of 11 species, predominantly of sea-coasts in temperate and tropical countries; 2 occurring in Australia, 1 species with 2 subspecies, both in Victoria.
Source:
Walsh, N.G. (1994). Poaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 356–627. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
