Annuals or perennials. Leaf-blades flat or rolled, often auriculate. Inflorescence a stiff 2-sided spike, the spikelets alternate in opposite rows with one edge sunk in hollows in the continuous axis. Spikelets 3-12(-22)-flowered, the uppermost floret reduced, the lower (adaxial) glume suppressed in all except the terminal spikelet and there similar to the upper; upper glume persistent, external, linear to oblong, 5-9-nerved, becoming hardened; lemmas rounded on the back, 5-9-nerved, awnless or with a straight awn from near the tip; palea as long or nearly as long as the lemma.