Description

Annuals or perennials. Inflorescence composed of single, paired or digitate racemes. Each raceme with 1-6 homogamous pairs of spikelets at the base; these male or neuter; upper spikelets with each pair markedly different; the sessile fertile, the pedicellate male or barren. Rhachis internodes and pedicels slender, solid, without a translucent, hyaline central line.   Sessile spikelet: callus obtuse; lower glume sometimes pitted; apex acute to broadly obtuse; upper lemma awned from its entire apex; awn glabrous. Pedicellate spikelet similar to sessile but usually male or neuter and awnless.