Annuals or perennials, with erect or geniculately ascending culms. Leaf-blades fairly broad, flat or folded, obtuse, occasionally apiculate; ligule a short membranous rim, ciliolate along the upper edge. Inflorescence terminal, consisting of 1-many digitate 1-sided spikes bearing flattened imbricate spikelets. Spikelets 2-flowered, ovate in side view, strongly laterally compressed, yellowish green, the lower floret hermaphrodite, the upper floret sterile or ♂; glumes ovate-lanceolate (when flattened), subequal, keeled, boat-shaped, membranous, the upper broader than the lower and occasionally with a short subterminal awn, usually 1-nerved (more in C. orientalis), acute; fertile lemma as long as the glumes or slightly longer, broadly ovate (when flattened), coriaceous, strongly keeled, ciliate along the nerves with a conspicuous subapical awn projecting from the spikelet, or shortly mucronulate; upper floret reduced, with lanceolate lemma and palea. Caryopsis ellipsoid or oblong, flattened on the back.Species 4; tropical Africa.