Annuals or perennials. Leaf-blades flat or rolled. Inflorescence a loose or contracted panicle. Spikelets several- to many-flowered, slightly laterally compressed, broad, often cordate; glumes persistent, subequal, 3-9-nerved; lemmas closely imbricate, broad, cordate at the base, horizontally spreading, papery with broad scarious margins, 7-9-nerved; palea shorter than the lemma, 2-keeled, the keels often winged.

A genus of about 20 species in temperate regions, mainly of Europe and South America, widely naturalised elsewhere; 3 species occur in Pakistan, 2 of them escapes from cultivation.

Lower Taxa

• Briza maxima Linn.
• Briza media Linn.
• Briza minor Linn.