Perennials, rarely annuals; culms tufted, stoloniferous or not. Leaf blade flat or conduplicate, rather
wide; sheaths often strongly keeled-compressed and equitant. Inflorescence composed of 2-numerouse
sessile, slender spike-like racemes; digitately-racemosely arranged. Spikelets solitary, alternate, dorsally
sessile along abaxial keel or rachis, dorsally compressed, oblong, muticuous, 2-flowered, falling off as a
whole; lower glume absent; upper glume and lower lemma as long as spikelet, thin, 2-7-veined, with or
without a faint midvein, with 1-3 marginal veins on either side; lower palea absent; upper lemma and
palea coriaceous; upper lemma with narrowly inrolled, opaque margins, usually not acute, embracing
upper palea to apex; lodicules 2; stamens3; style 2, free, stigmas plumose, exserted laterally. Caryopsis
free, totally enclosed by indurate upper palea and lemma, elliptic, dorsally compressed, embryos small.
About 110 species distributed in the tropical and subtropical America, now introduced to many
warmer countries. Two naturalized species in Taiwan
About 110 species distributed in the tropical and subtropical America, now introduced to many
warmer countries. Two naturalized species in Taiwan.
