Eriochloa

Tufted or shortly rhizomatous annuals or perennials. Leaf-blades flat; ligule a row of hairs. Inflorescence a panicle with spikelets shortly pedicellate, appressed and secund along the angular branches. Lower glume much reduced, cup-like; upper glume acute or acuminate, as long as the spikelet, hairy; lower floret sterile, its lemma equal to or slightly shorter than upper glume, its palea absent; lemma of fertile (upper) floret shorter than lower lemma, hardened, coarsely to finely transversely ridged, pointed or awned apically, palea subequal to and enclosed by lemma.