Asperella Humboldt (1790), not Asprella Schreber (1789).

Plants perennial, with short or creeping rhizomes. Culms usually erect. Leaf sheath of cauline leaves split almost to base; auricles crescent-shaped; ligule leathery-membranous. Spike erect or nodding, slender; rachis not disarticulating at nodes. Spikelets (1 or)2 per node, with 1–3 (4 in H. coreana) florets, distal floret usually sterile; rachilla disarticulating above glumes. Glumes usually weakly developed or sometimes absent (9–10 mm in H. coreana), subulate or linear-setiform, not keeled (keeled in H. coreana), scabrous. Lemma lanceolate, subleathery, 5–7-veined, without distinct keel, usually awned; callus subobtuse. Palea 2-keeled, ± ciliate along keels. Lodicules broadly lanceolate, margin ciliate. Caryopsis narrow, slightly furrowed, apex hairy. x = 7.

About ten species: mainly in warm-temperate regions of Asia and North America; four species (one endemic) in China.