Annual or perennial. Leaf blades broadly linear to lanceolate, narrowed at base. Inflorescence a panicle or the primary branches reduced to racemes. Spikelets breaking up above glumes, florets 1–4, rachilla extension usually bearing a rudimentary floret, upper florets decreasing in size and often with reflexed bristles; glumes unequal, separated by a short internode, 3–5-veined, dorsally keeled, apex acute or acuminate; lemmas dorsally rounded, 5–7-veined, apex acute or apiculate; palea narrower, equal to or shorter than its lemma, keels ciliate or glabrous. Stamens 2 or 3.

Three or four species: W Africa, tropical Asia, Australia (Queensland), Pacific islands; one species in China.