Rhizomatous dioecious perennials, leaves usually strongly distichous, firm, pointed; ligule a minute ciliate rim with longer hair-tufts at the sides; auricles sometimes developed. Inflorescence a raceme or spike. Spikelets several-flowered, laterally compressed; female spikelets breaking between the florets at maturity; glumes several-nerved, subequal, stiff, keeled, persistent, shorter than the spikelet; lemmas resembling glumes but larger and firmer; palea slightly shorter than lemma.
13 species, mostly from maritime or other saline habitats, 12 native to North America; 1 in southern Australia.
Source:
Walsh, N.G. (1994). Poaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 356–627. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
