Acroceras

Perennial, caespitose and rhizomatous, usually with long prostrate base. Leaf blade expanded; ligule a narrow, fringed membrane or fringe of hairs. Inflorescence of a number of 1-sided, spike-like racemes scattered on a central axis, sometimes a panicle; spikelets usually in pairs, pedicelled, pedicels of each pair +/- connate below. Spikelet oblong, laterally compressed or dorsiventrally or plumply subterete; upper glume and lower lemma +/- thickened at apex; glumes unequal in size, similar, membranous; lower glume lanceolate, 3-nerved, shorter than spikelet; upper glume longer than spikelet, 5-7-nerved. Florets 2; lower floret male or sterile; lemma similar to upper glume, 5-7-nerved, awnless; palea developed, hyaline; upper floret bisexual; lemma firmer than glumes, crustaceous, oblong, very obscurely keeled or rounded on back, faintly 5-nerved, glabrous and shiny; tip with distinct green crest, hard and blunt, awnless; palea similar to lemma. Lodicules 2, cuneate, fleshy. Stamens 3. Ovary ellipsoid, glabrous; styles large, plumose. Caryopsis ellipsoid, flattened on one side. x= 9 (polyploidy).