Agrost. Bras. 37, t. 1, fig. 3 (1823); Gen. Gram.: 316 (1986).- Type-species: Arundinella hispida (H.B.K.) O. Ktze.
Description:
* Annual or perennial herbs, sometimes with scaly rhizomes. Leaves usually linear; ligule short, membranous, often with a dense fringe of long hairs at base.
* Panicle open or contracted, usually with simple raceme-like primary branches; central axis smooth, scabrid or hispid on angles. Spikelets often paired on unequal pedicels, briefly connate.
* Spikelets lanceolate to ovate, often gaping and purplish; callus short, rounded, and often bearded. Lower floret staminate or barren, upper floret bisexual; rachilla disarticulating between florets. Lower glume short, acute to caudate; upper glume as long as spikelet, often caudate. Lower lemma similar in texture to upper glume, smooth, its palea hyaline; upper lemma terete, smaller than the lower, firmer in texture, scaberulose, apex entire or 2-toothed, often awned; awn usually geniculate with brown twisted column.
Genus with about 50 species of the tropics and subtropics, mainly in Asia.