J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 5: 572 (1836); non Adanson (1763).- Gram. Afr. Trop. 1: 275 (1962); Gen. Gram.: 363 (1986).- Type-species: Vossia procera Wall. & Griff. (= Vossia cuspidata (Roxb.) Griffith).
Description:
* Aquatic perennials. Leaves flat; ligule a short ciliolate membrane.
* Inflorescence in terminal digitate racemes with thickened clavate internodes and pedicels, scabrid on the margins and disarticulating transversely, the segments rounded to subtruncate basally, without a central peg.
* Sessile spikelets flat or concave on the back, with a truncate callus. Lower glume coriaceous, flattened and the margins 2-keeled, drawn out into a long flattened winged tail, scabrid on the keel and wing margins. Upper lemma entire and awnless, paleas equaling the lemmas, the lower floret male. Pedicelled spikelets resemble the sessile but reduced.
Genre monotypique des zones humides de l'Afrique et de l'Inde.