Spikelets solitary, pedicelled, moderately laterally compressed, usually 3-flowered (rarely less), awned; rhachilla disarticulating above the superior glume, not produced beyond the uppermost floret. Florets heteromorphous, the first and second sterile or male (sometimes the first male and the second sterile), the terminal one always bisexual. Glumes 2, unequal, persistent, keeled, membranous, 1-3-nerved with the nerves usually prominent, apex acute to acuminate; the inferior about 3/5-3/4 the length of the superior; the superior as long as or longer than the body of the lemmas. The first and second lemmas similar and almost equal, membranous, narrowly oblong in profile, 5-7-nerved, strongly laterally compressed, keeled, densely pilose, 2-fid to deeply 2-lobed, awned from the base or from the back or from the sinus; the awns usually unequal, that of the first lemma usually short and inserted 1/3-1/2-way below the apex, usually straight; that of the second lemma as long as or longer than its body, inserted near the base or sometimes around the middle, geniculate. Terminal lemma muticous, much shorter than (1/3-1/2) the preceding ones, expanded broadly elliptic or ovate-elliptic, faintly 7-1-nerved, obtusely 2-keeled, thinly membranous. Paleas of the first and second floret, when present, slightly shorter than the lemmas, linear, hyaline, 2-keeled; the one of the terminal floret narrowly oblong, 2-keeled, usually 1-nerved. Lodicules absent. Stamens 3 in the male, 2 in the bisexual florets. Ovary glabrous; styles distinct, long; stigmas long, rather slender, plumose, exserted from the apex. Caryopsis oblong-elliptic in outline, slightly laterally compressed; embryo c. 1/4 the length of the caryopsis; hilum small, punctiform, basal. Sweet-scented annuals or perennials, often stoloniferous. Ligules membranous. Inflorescence a dense spike-like panicle.