Annuals or perennials; culms tufted, sometimes stoloniferous. Ligule divided into hair-like slips or
ciliate; baldes linear to lanceolate, with a broad or attenuate base and acute tip, usually flat, sometimes
conduplicate or inrolled, sometimes longitudinally plicate. Inflorescence an all-side branched, open or
contracted panicle or spike-like raceme. Spikelets all or in part subtended by one or more setae at base;
bristles scabrid, persistent after spikelets have fallen off; spikelets articulate with short pedicel, ovateelliptic-
oblong, flat or faintly convex at one side, strongly convex at other side, totally glabrous, muticuous,
2-flowered; glumes with widely embracing base, herbaceous, often with anastomosing veins;
lower glume on flat side of spikelet, short, 1-5-veined; upper glume larger, 5-9-veined; lower lemma as
long as spikelet, 5-8-veined, herbaceous; upper lemma equally long, strongly convex, 5-veined, distinctly
transversely rugose-tuberculate, coriaceous; stamens 3; ovary glabrous; style 2, free, stigmas plumose.
Caryopsis free, enclosed between upper palea and lemma, plano-convex, the embryo 1/2-3/5 as
long as caryopsis, hilum punctiform, basal.
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About 140 species in tropics and subtropics. Nine species in Taiwan.
