Dwarf ephemeral. Leaf blades broadly linear, flat or folded, falcate. Inflorescence a sparsely branched panicle, spikelets arranged in distant, compact, umbellate clusters, base enclosed in inflated, funnel-like uppermost leaf sheath. Spikelets laterally compressed, floret 1, rachilla extension absent; glumes absent; lemma ovate, hyaline, 1-veined, keeled, apex extended into a subulate cusplike awn; palea variable in size, frequently about 2/3 lemma length, broad, 2-toothed, keels extended into mucros. Lodicules absent. Stamens 2. Caryopsis elliptic-oblong, protruding from floret and shed from it at maturity; hilum oval.

This is a widely distributed, but rather rare little grass, occurring sporadically in scattered localities.

One species: C and N Europe to NE Asia; probably introduced in North America.

(Authors: Chen Shouliang (陈守良); Sylvia M. Phillips)