Annua or perennial. Ligules membranous. Spikelets in panicles, laterally compressed, 1-flowered, articulating above the glumes. Glumes more or less long-persistent, subequal, membranous, usually 1-nerved, keeled, keel usually scabrouos, acute to acuminate. Rachilla process usually absent, or microscopic. Lemma membranous to scarious, thinner and usually distinctly shorter than the glumes, rounded on the back, 5-, rarely 3-nerved, muticous or dorsally awned, apex more or less truncate to 4- or 5-dentate, callus glabrous or laterally short-hairy. Palea shorter to much shorter than the lemma, then sometimes inconspicuous, 2-nerved when long. Lodicules 2, free, thin, veinless, glabrous. Anthers usually 3. Styles 2, free at base; stigmas emerging laterally at anthesis. Caryopsis dorsally grooved to terete; hilum subbasal, punctiform; embryo small.
Species 150-200.Worldwide in temperate areas and on tropical mountains.
翦股穎屬台灣有三種。依Veldkamp報告A. rigidula分為四個變種。差別在小花各部位長短比例的變化。此屬有待深入研究。
Veldkamp, J. F. 1982. Agrostis (Gramineae) in Malesia and Taiwan. Blumea 28(1): 199- 228.
