Plants annual. Culms 5-45 cm, branched above the base; internodes solid. Uppermost sheath often partially enclosing the inflorescences; ligules membranous, truncate; blades flat or convolute. Inflorescences single, terminal spikes, cylindrical, spikelets solitary, embedded in the rachis, with the abaxial surface of the upper glumes exposed; disarticulation at the rachis nodes. Spikelets dorsiventrally compressed, with 1-2 florets, second floret reduced and sterile; rachillas sometimes prolonged beyond the distal floret. Lower glumes absent from all but the terminal spikelets; upper glumes longer and firmer than the lemmas, rigid, 3-7(9)-veined, acuminate, unawned; lower lemmas membranous, lanceolate, 3(5)-veined, unawned; paleas hyaline; anthers 1-3; lodicules 2, oblique, glabrous, fleshy basally. Caryopses oblong, somewhat dorsally compressed, with an apical appendage; embryos small, about 1/5 the length of the caryopses; hila short, linear. x = 13. Named for Pierre Hainard (1936-), a Swiss phytogeographer.