Annuals or perennials. Inflorescence composed of racemes, these digitate or borne upon an elongated central axis; spikelets 2-3(-5)-nate, rarely solitary. Spikelets pedicellate, awnless; lower floret barren; upper floret bisexual; lower glume small or 0; upper glume as long as the spikelet or shorter, exposing the upper lemma; lower lemma usually as long as the spikelet, typically with longitudinal lines of hairs between the nerves; upper lemma chartaceous to cartilaginous, longitudinally striate.