Streblochaete

Perennial, tufted. Leaf blade linear-lanceolate, flaccid, rolled; ligule a short, unfringed membrane. Inflorescence an open panicle, +/- 1-sided, branches filiform, drooping, mostly solitary or paired and rather far apart on central axis; spikelets pedicelled. Spikelet not noticeably compressed, disarticulating above glumes; glumes unequal, shorter than spikelet, similar, membranous, margins hyaline, rounded on back, apex subacute to acute, awnless; lower glume 3-nerved; upper glume 5-nerved, often with transverse nerves. Florets 2-6, loosely arranged, lower 2-4 florets usually bisexual; uppermost floret male, sterile or greatly reduced; lower lemmas lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, similar to firmer in texture to glumes, becoming indurated (chartaceous) at maturity, rounded on back, distinctly 7-nerved, shortly 2-lobed, rarely entire, awned from back beneath sinus of lobes; awn geniculate, up to 3 times longer than body of lemma, flexuous, scaberulous, intertwined with awns from other florets so that spikelet falls as an unit; callus long, pointed, hairy; palea shorter than lemma, 2-keeled, linear. Lodicules 2, minute, cuneate-truncate, glabrous or ciliate. Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous, oblong; styles distinct, plumose above. x= 10.