Perennial, rarely annual, grasses with rhizomes. Culms to 250 cm. Sheaths closed for 3/4 their length to completely closed. Ligules present. Blades flat or folded. Inflorescences panicles, sometimes racemes. Spikelets terete or laterally compressed bearing 2–16 florets. Spikelets disarticulating above the glumes and below the florets. Glumes 1-veined, much shorter than the spikelet. Lower glume 0.5–4.5 mm long. Upper glume 0.6–7 mm long. Callus glabrous. Lemmas rounded over the back, 5–11-veined. Paleas shorter to longer than the lemmas. Anthers (1)2–3. Ovary glabrous.