| 1. | Lemma awn usually more than 23 mm long; inflorescence contrated |
D. crinita (NSW VIC TAS WA QLD) D. longiseta |
| Lemma awn less than 23 mm long, or if more not wavy (straight or geniculate); inflorecence open or contracted |
2 | |
| 2. | Lemma usually less than 4 mm long | 3 |
| Lemma at least 4 mm long |
5 |
|
| 3. | Inflorescence sparse with flexuous branches, with branches and pedicels clearly visible; lemmalonger than lower glume |
D. parva (NSW QLD) |
| Inflorescence branches ± contracted and not flexuous, with spikelets concealing branches; lemma usually shorter than to as long as both glumes |
4 |
|
| 4. |
Lemma awn 10-22 mm long; anther usually 1 |
D. micrantha (NSW VIC TAS SA WA QLD) D. sciurea |
| Lemma awn less than 10 mm long; anthers 3 |
D. montana (NSW TAS QLD) | |
| 5. | Lemma usually at least 6 mm long |
D. hirtella (NSW VIC TAS) |
| Lemma mostly less than 6 mm long | 6 | |
| 6. | Lower panicle branches with florets ± to base; lower glume usually as long as lemma |
D. rara (NSW VIC TAS SA WA QLD) |
| Lower panicle branches naked at base; lower glume shorter than lemma | 7 | |
|
7.
8. |
Awn column very tightly twisted; culms sometimes shortly puberulous, especially at nodes |
D. sieberiana (NSW VIC TAS) |
| Awn column not or slightly twisted; culms glabrous or minutely scabrid |
8 | |
| Plant to 135 cm tall; inflorescence 6-21 cm x 4-8 cm | D. inaequiglumis (NSW VIC TAS SA) | |
| Plant to 170 cm tall; inflorescence 25-30 cm x 5-10 cm | D. robusta (NSW VIC) |
Key to Dichelachne derived from Veldkamp 1974; Edgar and Connor 1982; Jacobs et al 1993, Simon et al 2009.