The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, and grows in wetlands and moist soil. Some species specialize in saline, marshy, environments such as intertidal mud-flats; others prefer ponds or lake-sides and river-beds. They have grass-like leaves, and clusters of small spikelets, often brown in colour. Some species can reach a height of 3 m, while others are much smaller, only reaching 20-30 cm tall. |
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