Herbs, perennial, robust. Roots coarse. Rhizomes woody. Culms central or lateral (arising from basal leaf axils or below leaves), if lateral then with cataphylls at base. Leaves 3-ranked, basal or rarely cauline; basal leaf sheath folded, open adaxially; cauline leaf sheath tubular; ligule absent; leaf blade linear to oblong, leathery or subleathery. Involucral bracts leaflike or glumelike, basal bract longest. Inflorescences corymbose paniculate or capitate, with 1, few, or many spikes. Spikes comprising few to many spirally imbricate glumelike bracts, each subtending a bisexual spikeletlike unit with a much reduced axis (pseudospikelet). Pseudospikelets comprising an apparently terminal female flower and 5 or 6 scalelike glumes; basal 2 pseudospikelet glumes opposite and keeled; basal 3 pseudospikelet glumes subtending a male flower comprising 1 stamen, remaining glumes empty. Perianth bristles absent. Styles slender; stigmas [2 or]3. Nutlet with a hard or succulent outer surface, smooth or sculptured, lateral costae or furrows 0 or 2-4.

About 85 species: pantropical and extending into warm temperate regions; three species in China.

(Authors: Dai Lunkai (戴伦凯); David A. Simpson, Gordon C. Tucker)