Danthoniopsis

Perennial, rarely annual, tufted. Leaf blade linear or lanceolate-linear, expanded; ligule a fringe of hairs. Inflorescence an open or contracted panicle; spikelets paired, rarely in threes or solitary, pedicelled, pedicels free. Spikelet 4-20 mm long, laterally compressed, disarticulating above glumes; glumes very unequal, scarious-membranous to chartaceous, rarely thinly coriaceous, 3-5-nerved, glabrous, dissimilar; lower glume not more than half the length of upper; upper glume lanceolate, ovate, oblong. Florets 2; lower floret male with lemma similar to upper glume, as long as or slightly shorter than spikelet, (3)5-9-nerved, awnless; palea membranous, narrow, 2-keeled with keels very narrowly winged; upper floret bisexual, lemma 7-9-nerved, similar in texture to glumes, hairy, hairs in 2-8 distinct tufts or fringes or tufts mixed with dispersed hairs, deeply 2-lobed, lobes acute, sometimes produced into fine scaberulous awns, awned from between lobes; awn geniculate, twisted below bend; callus short, square to oblong, obtuse; palea similar to that of lower floret but keels firmer and usually with wider wings; wings expanded into +/- triangular or clavate appendages. Lodicules 2, cuneate, fleshy. Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous; styles distinct, plumose above. x= 12 (1 report, polyploidy).