in Humb.& Bonpl., Nov. Gen. & Sp. 1: 94 (1815); Gen. Gram.:285 (1986).- Type-species: Eriochloa distachya Kunth.
Description:
* Annuals or perennials. Culms stoloniferous or cespitose to decumbent, nodes hairy. Leaves usually flat, acuminate; ligule a reduced membrane or a fringe of hairs.
* Inflorescence composed of racemes along a central axis. Spikelets ad axial, solitary or paired (or in clusters). Tips of pedicel discoid.
* Spikelets nearly always with a small basal swelling. Lower glume reduced; the upper long relative to the adjacent lemmas. Lower lemma awnless; upper lemma rugose, papery to crustaceous, yellow in fruit, mucronate to awned, shorter than the body of the lemma. Stigmas 2, red pigmented.
Genus with 30 species.