Annual. Culms robust. Leaf blades linear, flat; ligule membranous. Inflorescence of single axillary racemes; racemes cylindrical, fragile, transversely articulated; rachis internodes stout, flattened or semi-cylindrical, deeply cupped at apex, truncate at base with a prominent central peg broadened into a flared elaiosome. Sessile spikelet sunk within rachis; lower glume ovate-oblong, leathery, shallowly convex, marginally 2-keeled, apex obtuse or acute, narrowly winged; upper glume boat-shaped; lower floret staminate, palea present; upper floret with entire awnless lemma. Pedicelled spikelet tightly erect, as long as or shorter than sessile spikelet, herbaceous; pedicel broad, of similar texture to, and partly or wholly adnate to adjacent rachis internode.

Five species: Old World tropics; introduced in the Caribbean region; two species (one endemic) in China.

(Authors: Sun Bixing (孙必兴 Sun Bi-sin); Sylvia M. Phillips)