Perennials, rarely annuals. Culms slender or stout, ± compressed. Leaf blades linear to filiform, apex tapering; ligule ciliate. Inflorescence a single raceme or sometimes digitate; racemes unilateral, slender; spikelets sessile, imbricate, biseriate, awned. Spikelets dorsally compressed, narrow, not gaping, florets 2(or 3), lowermost floret fertile, 2nd male or neuter floret sometimes present, uppermost floret reduced to a rudimentary awned lemma at rachilla apex, disarticulating above glumes; callus bearded; glumes shorter or upper as long as florets, lanceolate to subulate, membranous, 1-veined, acute to shortly awned; lemma of fertile floret broadly rounded to almost flat on back, subleathery, 3-veined, midvein prominent, raised, scabrous, apex 2-toothed, awned. Caryopsis narrowly elliptic, dorsally compressed, pericarp free. x = 10.

Enteropogon is closely related to Chloris. The flattened fertile floret and caryopsis are the most reliable distinguishing features.

Nineteen species:throughout the tropics; two species in China.

(Authors: Sun Bixing (孙必兴 Sun Bi-sin); Sylvia M. Phillips)