Annuals or short-lived perennials, dwarf, densely tufted. Leaf blades linear, flat or involute; ligule a line of hairs. Inflorescence a contracted or spikelike panicle. Spikelets with several florets, laterally compressed, falling entire, or upper florets disarticulating separately and then lower florets, glumes, and pedicel falling tardily together; glumes as long as spikelet or almost so, subequal, membranous with hyaline margins, lanceolate, prominently 5–7-veined, acute to acuminate; lemmas ovate, rounded on back, membranous, 7–9-veined, pilose on back or margins, emarginate to 2-lobed, mucronate or not; palea equaling or subequaling lemma, hyaline. Lodicules 2, ciliate.

Five species: S Africa, C and SW Asia, Mediterranean region; introduced in America and Australia; two species in China.

(Authors: Wu Zhenlan (吴珍兰); Sylvia M. Phillips)