Ess. Agrost. 12, 154 (1812); Gen. Gram.: 289 (1986).- Type-species: Axonopus compressus (Sw.) P. Beauv.
Description:
* Caespitose or stoloniferous perennials, rarely annuals. Leaves flat to involute; ligule short membranous.
* Inflorescence with two to many slender racemes, digitate or along a short axis; rachis triquetrous, bearing single spikelets with their lower lemma ad axial.
* Spikelets small. Lower glume absent; upper glume and lower lemma about as long as spikelet. Lower palea absent; upper lemma crustaceous, usually obtuse, margins enrolled and covering only the edges of the palea. Caryopsis elliptic.
American genus of about 110 species with 3 species in Africa, one of them introduced.