They are annual or perennial grasses. At least one species has short rhizomes and some have stolons. They vary in form, growing erect or decumbent, the stems reaching 15 centimeters to 2 meters long. They are mostly unbranched. The leaves are linear to lance-shaped to oblong. The panicle is open or narrow with spikelets up to 1.1 centimeters long.
These grasses grow in open areas and in shade, often in moist and wet habitat.
↑Longhi-Wagner, H. M., V. Bittich, M. das G. L. Wanderley & G. J. Shepherd. 2001. Poaceae. 1: 1–292. In M. G. L. Wanderly, G. J. Shepherd & A. M. Giulietti (eds.) Flora Fanerogâmica do Estado de São Paulo. Editora Hucitec, São Paulo
↑Boggan, J. Funck, V. & Kelloff, C. (1997). Checklist of the Plants of the Guianas (Guyana, Surinam, Franch Guiana) ed. 2: 1-238. University of Guyana, Georgetown
↑Giraldo-Cañas, D. (2011). Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en Colombia. Darwiniana 49: 139-247