Annual or perennial, glabrous
herbs. Stolons often present in perennials. Culms ranging from 1-2 cm to 150 cm, green, terete, angular or triangular, hollow or
filled with pith, smooth or ridged, rarely with transverse septa (E. dulcis). Sheaths pale, tubular, truncate above or
ending in a short lobe. Leaves 0. Inflorescence a single terminal spikelet. Lowest 1-2 glumes similar to or different from upper. Glumes spirally arranged, usually numerous; margin often
transparent. Perianth segments 3-9 glabrous or barbellate bristles or 0.
Stamens 1-3. Nutlet with the style base persistent as an appendage (the style base excluded in all nutlet measurements). Worldwide: c. 120 species, cosmopolitan. Zimbabwe: 10 taxa. |
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