Herbs, perennial, cespitose, rhizomatous. Culms terete or distally rounded-trigonous. Leaves basal; ligules present; blades flat. Inflorescences terminal, spicate; involucral bracts several, suberect, proximal leaflike, distal scalelike; spikelets 2-25 per spike. Spikelets: scales 2-5, lateral spikelets spirally arranged, each subtending flower, terminal spikelets pseudodistichous. Flowers bisexual; perianth bristles (0-)3-5(-6), barbed, shorter than achene; stamens 3; styles linear, 2-fid, base persistent. Achenes biconvex or plano-convex. x = 20.