Spikelets articulated above the glumes, with 2 lower staminate lemmas and one upper fertile lemma of different form; glumes broad, very thin, obscurely 3-veined, glabrous, subequal, the second slightly wider; staminate lemmas firm, brown, rounded on the back, densely ciliate, acute; fertile lemma indurate at maturity, awnless; palea 1-3 veined; fragrant perennials, the sterile shoots with elongate basal lvs, the fertile usually with small blades and a terminal panicle of broad spikelets. 10+, temp. and cool regions, mostly N. Hemisphere.
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.
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