Annuals or perennials. Leaves: ligule
present or 0. Inflorescence of racemes along a central axis;
spikelets paired or in short secondary racemes, typically
densely packed in 4 rows. Spikelets narrowly
elliptic to suborbicular, flat on one side, gibbous on the
other, often hispidulous, sometimes stipitate; apex usually cuspidate or awned; lower glume c. 1/3, the upper as long as, the
spikelet, both acute or acuminate; lower lemma often stiffly awned; upper crustaceous with an incurved beak at apex; apex
of upper palea briefly reflexed and slightly protruding from the
lemma. Worldwide: c. 35 species in warm and tropical regions Zambia: 8 taxa. |
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