Taxonomic status:Accepted
Occurrence status:Present
Establishment means:Introduced
Tufted annuals or perennials. Leaf-blades flat or folded; ligules a fringed membrane. Inflorescence a terminal umbel of spikes, occasionally with 1–several non-umbellate spikes. Spikelets arranged in two overlapping rows along one side of the rachis, 2–9-flowered, laterally compressed; glumes 2, shorter than spikelet, 1–7-nerved, unequal, persistent; lemma 1–5-nerved, acute, keeled dorsally. Grain pericarp membranous, not adhering to seed.
9 species, from tropical countries; 3 naturalised in Australia, 2 in Victoria.