Perennials, rarely annuals. Culms tufted or stoloniferous. Leaf blades flat or involute, often obtuse; ligule short, membranous-ciliolate. Inflorescence composed of 2 to many slender racemes, mostly subdigitate but sometimes along a short central axis; spikelets borne singly, subsessile, alternating in 2 rows along the narrow triquetrous rachis, lower lemma adaxial. Spikelets lanceolate to oblong, flatly biconvex, florets 2 (but apparently 1); lower glume absent; upper glume membranous, as long as spikelet, obscurely 4- or 5-veined; lower floret neuter, reduced to an empty lemma similar to upper glume, its palea absent; upper floret crustaceous, lemma margins inrolled, apex obtuse. x = 9, 10.

Many species of Axonopus are good forage or lawn grasses. The two species found in China have been widely introduced in the humid tropics of the world.

About 110 species: tropical and subtropical America, one species in Africa; two species (both introduced) in China.

(Authors: Chen Shouliang (陈守良); Sylvia M. Phillips)