Rhizomatous perennials. Leaf-blades flat; ligules membranous, ciliate. Inflorescence a spike-like panicle. Spikelets paired (one sessile, one pedicellate), each with 2 florets, disarticulating below the glumes; glumes 2, similar, 3–9-nerved, membranous, subtended by long silky hairs which remain attached to the spikelet after disarticulation; lower floret male (rarely) or sterile, usually lacking a palea; upper floret bisexual paleate; both considerably shorter than glumes and both thinly membranous.
10 species in tropical and warm-temperate countries; 1 in Australia.
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.
