Rhodocoma

Plants caespitose or with spreading rhizomes. Culms simple, often with clusters of sterile branches at nodes. Leaf sheaths persistent, closely convolute, apical half usually lacerate. Maleinflorescence paniculate; spathes persistent, similar to sheaths; pedicels flattened. Malespikelets several, ovate, pendulous, 3-6-flowered; bracts cartilaginous, as long as florets; perianth segments 6, chartaceous to cartilaginous, subequal; stamens 3, anthers 1-locular, dehiscing inside perianth. Femaleinflorescence of many slender, stiffly erect spikelets or with 1 spikelet at apex of each branch. Femalespikelets with several bracts, apical 1(2) fertile; perianth segments 6, +/- subequal, bony to cartilaginous, outer ones longer and more slender, inner ones shorter and wider; staminodes 3; ovary 3-locular; styles 3; free, plumose, exserted from bracts at anthesis. Fruit a loculicidal capsule.