Askidiosperma

Plants tightly caespitose. Rhizomes usually very short. Culms simple. Leafsheaths caducous. Maleinflorescence very similar to female. Malespikelets: florets sometimes smaller than female ones; pollen released inside perianth segments. Female inflorescence of many elongated, poorly defined spikelets clustered at several fertile nodes; spathellae and bracts taller than florets, hyaline and soon lacerate, persisting as hairs around maturing florets; spathes taller or smaller than spikelets, papery to cartilaginous. Female spikelets: perianth segments osseous, usually acute, backs all rounded, inner segments usually longer than outer ones; staminodes well developed; ovary 3-locular; styles 3, plumose. Fruit at least partly dehiscent.