Type species: Gryllus (Mantis) siccifolius Linnaeus, 1758: 425, by monotypy.
Differing from the subgenus Ph. (Pulchriphyllium) by the lack of exterior lobes on the tibiae of both sexes, ± round cross-section of antennomeres IV–VIII of ♀ as well as the longer tegmina, which at least reach to abdominal segment III, and ventrally unarmed antennomeres of ♂. Eggs differ by the raised hairy, umbrella- or feather-like appendages, lack of longitudinal lamellae of the capsule and flat operculum.
For full details, as well as diagnoses of the genus and subgenus and keys see Hennemann et al. (2009).