Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves crowded at culm base, lamina often inrolled. Inflorescence a compact head of 1-flowered spikelets surrounded by an involucre of leaves. Each spikelet consists of a spikelet bract, a perianth scale (squamella), a rhachilla (in a few species) and a flower. The squamella is often conspicuous and petal-like and sometimes encloses the flower, the nutlet and squamella falling together. Stamens 1-3(-5). Ovary with 2-3 stigmas. Nutlet minutely papillose. Worldwide: c. 20 species, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa; 1 in Madagascar and S America and 2 extending to Indo-China Mozambique: 3 taxa. |
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