Perennials; culms weak, erect or creeping. Sheaths more or less compressed; ligule membranous; blades conduplicate. Inflorescence a terminal single, more or less compressed raceme. Spikelets single, pedicelled spikelets reduced to only a pedicel. Sessile spikelets dorsiventrally compressed, 2-flowered, awnless, imbricate along one side of the rachis; rachis tardily articulating, the internode bar-shaped;
Iower glume broader, thick papery, margins slightly inrolled, 2-keeled, the keel with comb-like spines; upper glume boat-shaped, 3-nerved, acute at the apex; lower lemma membranous, paleate, and staminate; upper floret bisexual or pistillate, the lemma membranous, entire, nerveless or the midnerve disappearing above the middle, the palea narrower.
About eight species distributed in India, Ceylon, South China, Southeast Asia, Western Malaysia and Australia.
Two species are found in Taiwan, ophiuroides is one of the most promising lawn grasses in Taiwan.
