Low growing annuals; culms prostrate or geniculately ascending. Leaf-blades usually short. Inflorescence a hemispherical to ovoid head, or a cylindrical spiciform panicle, embraced below by 1-2 inflated bract-like leaf-sheaths bearing a reduced blade, or sometimes exserted. Spikelets strongly laterally compressed, disarticulating below the floret, sometimes tardily so or rarely falling entire, awned or awnless; glumes subequal, shorter than the lemma; lemma 1-nerved; palea 1-2-nerved. Fruit rounded at the tip, not beaked.

A genus of 7 or 8 species mainly in the Mediterranean region and South-west Asia, extendig to China and Malawi; introduced in South Africa, Madagascar and North America; commonly on periodically flooded or saline soils; 1 species occurs in Pakistan.

There is an unconfirmed report of Crypsis aculeata (Linn.) Ait. in Pakistan (K.H. Rechinger 28687 cited by Bor in Fl. Iran.). It differs from Crypsis schoenoides by its shorter and broader, almost capitate inflorescence, 1-nerved palea and by having only 2 anthers. The terminal leaves are cordate with a broadened, coriaceous sheath not set off from the blade.

Lower Taxon

• Crypsis schoenoides (Linn.) Lam.

Related Synonym(s):

• Crypsis niliaca Fig. & De Not. = Crypsis schoenoides (Linn.) Lam.
• Heleochloa schoenoides (Linn.) Host = Crypsis schoenoides (Linn.) Lam.
• Phalaris vaginiflora Forssk. = Crypsis schoenoides (Linn.) Lam.
• Phleum schoenoides Linn. = Crypsis schoenoides (Linn.) Lam.