Flora of New Zealand Series

Ligules usually membranous and ciliate, sometimes predominantly membranous or predominantly ciliate. Inflorescence of tough unilateral racemes digitate or scattered along an axis and often deciduous. Spikelets with 1 ⚥ floret, with or without ♂ or Ø florets, laterally or dorsally compressed, disarticulating above glumes but not between florets, or falling entire. Glumes usually persistent, or caducous, herbaceous to membranous, 1-3-(5)-nerved, < floret or enclosing floret; lower sometimes 0. Lemma membranous to coriaceous, (0)-3-nerved, entire or 2-3-(5)-lobed with or without 1-3-(5) terminal or subapical, usually straight awns. Achene sometimes with free pericarp.