Plants perennial, some apparently monocarpic; rhizomatous, sometimes cespitose or stoloniferous; monoecious. Culms 10-130 cm, erect to decumbent; internodes solid, frequently with prominent prop roots at the lower nodes. Sheaths open, glabrous; ligules usually scarious, sometimes membranous and ciliate; pseudopetioles conspicuous, twisted 180° distally, inverting the blades; blades linear to ovate, usually broad, usually tessellate, lateral veins diverging obliquely from the midvein. Inflorescences terminal panicles, ovate, open; rachises terminating in a staminate spikelet or naked; branches with uncinate hairs, spikelets appressed. Spikelets unisexual, dimorphic, sexes paired or pistillate spikelets solitary, with 1 floret; rachillas not prolonged beyond the florets; disarticulation above the glumes and in the panicle branches. Staminate spikelets smaller than the pistillate spikelets, attached below the pistillate spikelets on appressed pedicels; lower glumes shorter than the upper glumes or absent; lemmas longer than the glumes, ovate, 3-veined; lodicules 3, minute; anthers 6. Pistillate spikelets larger than the staminate spikelets, subsessile, elongate; glumes subequal, lanceolate, (3)5-9(11)-veined, purple or green; lemmas cylindrical, longer than the glumes, indurate, involute, with uncinate hairs over at least a portion of the surface, 7-veined, margins inrolled, concealing the palea; lodicules absent; staminodes 6, minute; styles 1, 3-branched, stigmas hispid. x = 12. Name from the Greek pharos, 'cloak' or 'mantle'.