| 1. | Spikelets 4.3-5 mm long | *A. aequalis (NSW VIC SA) |
| Spikelets 2.4-3 mm long | 2 | |
| 2. | Glume margins united for up to 1/2 their length | *A. myosuroides (NSW TAS SA WA QLD) A. agrestis |
| Glume margins united only near base | 3 | |
| 3. | Spikelets 2.5-3.3 mm long | *A. geniculatus (NSW VIC TAS SA WA QLD) A. australis |
| Spikelets 4-6 mm long | *A. pratensis (NSW VIC TAS SA WA) |
Key to Alopecurus derived from Willis 1970; Tutin 1980. See also Kodela, Weiller & Thompson 2009
Taxonomic name: