Synonyms: Briza bipinnata L. Eragrostis cynosuroides.
Perennial herbs, to 1.5 m. Culms rigid, branched at base and covered with leathery yellowish sheaths. Leaf sheaths glabrous. Leaves flat or inrolled, tough, adaxial surface and margins scabrid, abaxial surface rather smooth, apex long acuminate; ligule. Inflorescence, racemes ascending or spreading, crowded, main axis and rachis hispidulous. Spikelets elliptic or elliptic-oblong, stramineous or purplish, florets 3–10; glumes ovate-lanceolate; lower glume, upper glume, lemmas ovate-lanceolate, palea keels scabrid.