Tufted perennials, up to 1 m high, with short woody rhizome; culms clothed at base with bladeless sheaths. Anthela ample, subdense, 15- 30 cm in diameter, decompound; primary rays numerous, rather equal; leafy bracts more than 10, nearly equal in length. Spikelets in clusters of 3- 10, oblong-lanceolate to elliptic; rachilla not winged; glumes ovate, acute, pale green and variegated with rusty brown. Stamens 3. Stigmas 3. Achenes elliptic-obovate, trigonous, black at maturity.