Dactylis

Perennial, tufted, rhizomatous (rhizome often oblique). Leaf blade linear to linear-lanceolate, expanded or rolled; sheaths keeled, compressed; ligule an unfringed membrane. Inflorescence an open or contracted panicle, lobed, branches secund; spikelets crowded in dense shortly pedicelled clusters at ends of short main branches. Spikelet 5-9 mm long, strongly laterally compressed, disarticulating above glumes; glumes +/- equal or unequal, similar, shorter than spikelet, lanceolate to ovate, rigid, membranous, 3-nerved, strongly keeled, glabrous or hairy on keel, acuminate to mucronate or awned. Florets 2-5(7), bisexual; uppermost floret often sterile; lemma firmer in texture than glumes, lanceolate-oblong, 5-nerved, strongly keeled, keels hairy or scabrid, shortly awned; awn straight, shorter than body of lemma; callus short, glabrous; palea slightly shorter than lemma, 2-keeled. Lodicules 2, bilobed, glabrous. Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous; styles plumose. Caryopsis ovoid, tightly enclosed by hardened lemma and palea. x= 7 (polyploidy, B-chromosomes).