Subtropical bamboos. Rhizomes pachymorph with necks to 25cm. Culms in a single, dense clump (unicaespitose), to 12m, erect below, pendulous to semi-scandent above; internodes to 50cm; nodes often with a prominent, corky ring. Mid-culm branch buds ovate, enclosed within a 2-keeled, fused budscale, initially closed at front; lateral branches without subtending sheaths. Midculm branches c.25 in first year, from compressed basal nodes on central branch, subequal, strongly geniculate, aerial roots present or absent. Culm sheaths distally acuminate with broad apex, margins often prominently ciliate or fimbriate. Leaf blades lacking cross-veins. Infl. partially bracteate, open, with pendulous, fascicled branches (paraclades), completely exserted from short subtending sheaths; branching racemose to paniculate, never unilateral, pulvini absent, subtended by hairs, or reduced, but often substantial, sheaths. Spikelets large; pedicels thin, wiry, scabrous or pubescent; glumes 1-2, delicate, the lower lacking in terminal spikelet, the upper often subtending a rudimentary axis (flowering semelauctant). Stamens 3. Flowering gregarious.