Annuals. Leaf-blades flat. Inflorescence a distichous spike. Spikelets solitary at the nodes of the tough or fragile rhachis, laterally compressed, 2-6(-9)-flowered, the upper 1 or 2 florets usually sterile; glumes subequal, chartaceous or rarely membranous, asymmetrical, ± keeled, truncate, 1-2-toothed or awned; lemmas coriaceous, keeled towards the tip, scabrid, awned or awnless; palea membranous, 2-keeled.