Perennials, with long scaly rhizomes. Leaf blades linear to involute, with setiform slightly pungent apex; ligule membranous. Inflorescence a sparse panicle of few to several ascending racemose branches along a central axis. Spikelets shortly pedicelled, laterally compressed, florets (1 or)2 to several, rachilla disarticulating above glumes and between florets; glumes thin, lower 1-veined, upper 3-veined, acute to obtuse; lemmas lanceolate-oblong, 3-veined, pilose, lightly keeled, entire, acute or mucronate; palea equal to or slightly shorter than lemma, ± ciliolate along keels, ± hairy between keels. Caryopsis cylindrical.

The widely spreading, scaly rhizomes are well adapted to survival in shifting sands, and the species are good stabilizers of dunes.

Four species: Himalayas from Kashmir to Nepal and W China, at high altitudes; four species (three endemic) in China.

(Authors: Chen Shouliang (陈守良); Sylvia M. Phillips)