482.000 Costularia C.B. Clarke

Medium-sized to tall, tufted or more rarely shortly rhizomatous perennials, sometimes forming dwarf shrubs. Culms scapose or with few nodes. Leaves usually basally crowded, eligulate, blade sometimes deciduous. Inflorescence terminal, paniculate with numerous spikelets. Primary bgracts leaf-like, sheathing. Spikelets with several distichous, deciduous glumes of increasing length, larger glumes each subtending a floret, enclosed by the wings of the next glume. Bristles 6, deciduous with the fruit. Nutlets often 3-ribbed.

Worldwide: 25 species native to southern Africa and Madagascar

Malawi: 1 taxon.