Notizbl. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 11: 655 (1932); Gram. Afr. Trop. 1: 287 (1962); Gen. Gram. 368 (1986).- Type-species: Oxyrhachys mildbreadiana Pilger ( = O. gracillima (Baker) Hubb.)
Description:
* Caespitose perennials. Leaves filiform, involute, rigid; ligule a short fringed membrane.
* Inflorescence a single, unbranched terminal raceme with spikelets on opposite sides of the rhachis; internodes semicylindrical, strongly oblique at the base and apex. Spikelets solitary by the suppression of the pedicelled spikelets; sessile spikelets sunken in internode.
* Sessile spikelet muticous, callus obtuse, oblique. Lower glume lanceolate, coriaceous, smooth, keelless. Lower floret barren; upper floret hermaphrodite, obtuse. Pedicelled spikelet and the pedicel suppressed.
African genus with one species.
The is no trace of either a pedicelled spikelet or a pedicel, but the structure of the sessile spikelet clearly indicates that it belongs with Andropogoneae.