Cynodon

Perennial, stoloniferous or rhizomatous, often mat-forming. Leaf blade linear, flat or folded; ligule a fringed membrane or a fringe of hairs. Inflorescence of 1-5 closely spaced 1-sided spikes, in pairs, digitate or subdigitate; rachis flattened; spikelets solitary, sessile. Spikelet 2.0-3.5 mm long, strongly laterally compressed, disarticulating above glumes; glumes +/- equal to unequal, similar, narrow, shorter than or rarely as long as spikelet, acute, keeled, sometimes scabrid on keel, awnless, 1-nerved, rarely upper glume 3-nerved. Floret 1, bisexual, with or without a rachilla extension, rarely bearing a second floret which is usually small and reduced, rarely well developed; lemma similar to firmer in texture to glumes, obtuse, 1-4-nerved, keeled, keel winged or wingless, hairy on keel and often on margins, flanks usually glabrous, awnless; callus glabrous; palea as long as or shorter than lemma, obtuse or subacute, membranous, 2-keeled. Lodicules 2, minute, obovate-cuneate, glabrous. Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous; styles distinct, plumose above. Caryopsis ellipsoid, laterally compressed. x= 9, 10 (polyploidy).