Tricostularia

Perennials with short rhizome. Culms tufted, nodeless or noded. Leaves basal, rarely 1 or 2 cauline, often reduced to sheaths; ligule absent. Inflorescence small and spike-like to large and much-branched. Spikelets solitary or clustered, sessile or pedicellate, terete or compressed, 1–2(–3)-flowered, bisexual or the lowest male or sterile; rachilla persistent, straight, with very short internodes; glumes 4–7, ± distichous, the 2–4 lower ones empty and shorter, often the uppermost 1 or 2 reduced; hypogynous scales 6 or occasionally 3, linear to narrow-elliptical, short, flat, whitish or finally orange-brown, not thickened; stamens 3; style 3-fid, continuous with ovary, caducous. Nut obovoid or obpyriform, trigonous, with 3 pale ribs, hispid at apex.