Perennials; leaf-blades flat, sometimes aromatic; ligule membranous. Inflorescence of digitate or subdigitate racemes, sometimes paniculate with a long central axis; racemes with more than 8 sessile spikelets, without homogamous spikelet pairs; 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, sometimes with 1-3 circular pits, acute; lower floret reduced to a hyaline lemma; upper lemma often entire, with a glabrous awn. Caryopsis oblong, slightly dorsally compressed. Pedicel¬led spikelet much like the sessile or smaller.