Annuals or perennials. Leaf-blades flat, sometimes aromatic; ligule membranous. Inflorescence a delicate panicle with elongated central axis and capillary branches bearing short racemes; racemes with 1-5(-8) sessile spikelets, without homogamous pairs at the base: internodes and pedicels linear, with a hyaline median line. Sessile spikelet dorsally compressed; callus very short, rounded; lower glume broadly convex to slightly concave on the back, abruptly rounded on the flanks, without pits; lower floret reduced to a hyaline lemma; upper lemma entire, with a glabrous or puberulous awn. Caryopsis oblong, slightly dorsally compressed. Pedicelled spikelet usually well developed.