Fund. Agrost. 175 (1822);, Gram. Afr. trop. 1: 240 (1962; Gen. Gram.:293 (1986).- Type species: T. glabrum Trin. (= Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Ktze, pro major parte).
Description:
* Annuals or perennials.
* Inflorescence very short racemes bearing few single spikelets and sunk in pockets on one side or both sides of the foliaceous or corky axis. Raceme ending in a point.
* Spikelets. Glumes membranous, both short or the upper as long as spikelet. Lower lemma coriaceous; upper lemma chartaceous. Quite some variation amongst the species.