|
1. |
Culms woody; leaves pseudopetiolate |
2 |
|
Culms usually herbaceous; if woody the leaves not pseudopetiolate |
5 |
|
| 2. |
Culms forming climbing vines |
|
|
Culms not forming climbing vines |
3 |
|
| 3. |
Auricles with bristles to 10 mm long |
|
|
Auricles without bristles |
4 |
|
| 4. |
Culms cylindrical in cross section |
|
|
Culms with an internodal groove on alternate sides |
||
|
5. |
Leaves spirally arranged |
|
|
Leaves arranged in two rows |
6 |
|
|
6. |
Spikelets morphologically or functionally unisexual |
7 |
|
Spikelets bisexual |
20 |
|
|
7. |
Spikelets with 1 floret, or more than 2 florets |
8 |
|
Spikelets with 2 florets |
12 |
|
|
8. |
Spikelets with 1 floret; male and female spikelets on same plant |
9 |
|
Spikelets with more than 2 florets; male and female spikelets on different plants |
10 |
|
|
9. |
Lemma asymmetrical with a ±lateral orifice |
|
|
Lemma pyriform with a terminal orifice |
||
|
10. |
Short grasses with a compact raceme |
|
|
Tall reed-like grasses with a plumose panicle |
11 |
|
| 11. |
Leaf blades with only the midrib prominent and strongly sclerified |
|
|
Leaf blades with several wide strongly sclerified veins (including midrib) |
||
|
12. |
Upper lemma membranous, thinner than glumes |
13 |
|
Upper lemma hardened, thicker than glumes |
16 |
|
|
13. |
Male and female spikelets in separate inflorescences |
*Zea |
|
Male and female spikelets in different parts of the same inflorescence |
14 |
|
|
14. |
Inflorescence consisting of a female spikelet enclosed in a rigid shell, from which a raceme of male spikelets emerges apically |
|
|
Inflorescence spike-like with female spikelets basal and male apical |
15 |
|
| 15. |
Internode broader than and ± enclosing female spikelet |
|
|
Internode narrower than and ± enclosed by female spikelet |
||
|
16. |
Plants monoecioeus, i.e. with male and female spikelets on the same plant |
17 |
|
Plants dioecious i.e. with male and female spikelets on different plants |
18 |
|
|
17. |
Inflorescence a simple raceme, with 1-2 female spikelets at the base, the upper spikelets male |
|
|
Inflorescence a spike-like panicle with racemes of female spikelets below and solitary male spikelets above |
||
|
18. |
Inflorescence a contracted, spike-like panicle, not spatheate |
|
|
Inflorescences clustered together in dense, umbel-like spatheate heads |
19 |
|
|
19. |
Female heads with long stiff spines; inhabits coastal dunes |
|
|
Female inflorescences bracteate but not spiny; inhabits desert sand dunes |
||
|
20. |
Spikelets with 1 to many florets, if 2-flowered both florets or lower one bisexual |
21 |
|
Spikelets 2-flowered, lower floret male or barren, upper bisexual or female |
171 |
|
|
21. |
Inflorescence a solitary bilateral spike or raceme; spikelets usually with the broad side facing the axis |
22 |
|
Inflorescence a panicle or a unilateral or multilateral spike or raceme, rarely a bilateral spike but then the spikelets edgewise on to the axis |
38 |
|
|
22. |
Lemmas 3-5-nerved, hyaline to membranous |
23 |
|
Lemmas 5-10-nerved, hardened at maturity |
26 |
|
|
23. |
Lemmas awned |
|
|
Lemmas not awned |
24 |
|
|
24. |
Spikelets compressed laterally |
|
|
Spikelets compressed dorsiventrally |
25 |
|
|
25. |
Lemmas with lateral nerves extending to the apex |
|
|
Lemmas with very short lateral nerves |
||
|
26. |
Rachilla terminated by a fertile floret |
|
|
Rachilla prolonged beyond the uppermost fertile floret |
27 |
|
|
27. |
Spikelets in groups of more than 2 at each rachis node |
28 |
|
Spikelets solitary at each rachis node |
30 |
|
|
28. |
Spikelet 4-5-flowered, in groups of 2-4 (-7) |
|
|
Spikelet 1-flowered, in groups of 2 or 3 |
29 |
|
|
29. |
Spikelets in pairs at each rachis node |
|
|
Spikelets in 3s at each rachis node |
||
|
30. |
Annuals |
31 |
|
Perennials |
34 |
|
|
31. |
Glumes not keeled |
|
|
Glumes strongly keeled |
32 |
|
|
32. |
Glumes subulate |
|
|
Glumes not subulate |
33 |
|
|
33. |
Lemmas with nerves converging upwards |
|
|
Lemmas with nerves not converging upwards |
||
|
34. |
Rachis fragile, smooth |
|
|
Rachis tough, scabrous |
35 |
|
|
35. |
Plant with long creeping rhizomes |
|
|
Plant tufted, or with short rhizomes |
36 |
|
|
36 |
Leaf blades ± flat; glumes ± scabrous on nerves |
|
|
Leaf blades usually convolute or involute; glumes smooth |
37 |
|
|
37. |
Rachis internodes concave; glumes subacute to pointed |
|
|
Rachis internodes nearly flat; glumes truncate |
||
|
38. |
Fertile lemmas deeply or distinctly lobed |
39 |
|
Fertile lemmas entire, dentate or slightly lobed |
42 |
|
|
39. |
Spikelets 1-flowered |
|
|
Spikelets 2-or more-flowered, rarely 1-flowered |
40 |
|
|
40. |
Lemmas 9-lobed |
|
|
Lemmas 3-lobed |
41 |
|
|
41. |
Inflorescence a 1-sided raceme |
|
|
Inflorescence a panicle or spike |
||
|
42. |
Leaf blades hard, woody, needle-like |
|
|
Leaf blades not hard, woody, needle-like |
43 |
|
|
43. |
Leaf blades with transverse veins between main veins |
44 |
|
Leaf blades without transverse veins |
45 |
|
|
44. |
Glumes more or less equal; upper glume 7-nerved; lemmas awned |
|
|
Glumes very unequal; upper glume 3-5-nerved; lemmas mucronate |
||
|
45. |
Tall reed-like plants |
46 |
|
Plants not tall and reed-like |
47 |
|
|
46. |
Lemmas hairy; rachilla not hairy |
|
|
Lemmas not hairy; rachilla hairy |
||
|
47. |
Spikelets with 2 or more bisexual florets or if only one, with rachilla extension or sterile florets (empty lemmas) above it |
48 |
|
Spikelets with 1 bisexual floret, with or without male or sterile florets (empty lemmas) below it |
132 |
|
|
48. |
Spikelets with 3 or more florets or with 1or 2 florets and a rachilla extended beyond the upper floret |
49 |
|
Spikelets with 2 florets, without a rachilla extension |
122 |
|
|
49. |
Inflorescence racemose or spicate, or digitate or non-digitate |
50 |
|
Inflorescence a panicle |
75 |
|
|
50. |
Inflorescence digitate or subdigitate |
51 |
|
Inflorescence racemose or spicate |
62 |
|
|
51 |
Spikelet with at least 3 fertile florets |
52 |
|
Spikelet with 1 (rarely 2) fertile florets |
55 |
|
|
52. |
Axis of each inflorescence branch ending in a bristle; spikelet-bearing axis disarticulating |
|
|
Axis of each inflorescence branch ending in a spikelet; spikelet-bearing axis not disarticulating |
53 |
|
|
53. |
Spikelets 2-5; lemma 5-7-nerved; leaves mostly basal, setaceous |
|
|
Spikelets many; lemma 3-nerved; leaves not basally aggregated or setaceous |
54 |
|
|
54. |
Lemmas mucronate to shortly awned; upper glume 1-nerved |
|
|
Lemmas muticous; upper glumes 3-7-nerved |
||
|
55. |
Spikelet with 1 floret; lemmas unawned |
56 |
|
Spikelet with 2 or more florets; lemmas awned |
57 |
|
|
56. |
Glumes shorter than floret |
|
|
Glumes longer than floret |
||
|
57. |
Lowest lemma dorsally compressed (lying on front or back when placed on a flat surface) |
58 |
|
Lowest lemma laterally compressed (lying on the side when placed on a flat surface) |
59 |
|
|
58. |
Glumes unequal, shorter than florets |
|
|
Glumes subequal, longer than florets |
||
|
59. |
Inflorescence with more than 40 branches |
|
|
Inflorescence with less than 20 branches |
60 |
|
|
60. |
Awn of lowest lemma less than 2 mm long |
|
|
Awn of lowest lemma more than 3 mm long |
61 |
|
|
61. |
Lemmas very broad, wing-like |
|
|
Lemmas not very broad, not wing-like |
||
|
62. |
Spikelets unilateral (borne on one side of the inflorescence axis) |
63 |
|
Spikelets bilateral or multilateral (borne on opposite sides or all round the inflorescence axis) |
70 |
|
|
63. |
Spikelet with many fertile florets |
64 |
|
Spikelet with one fertile floret |
66 |
|
|
64. |
Lower glume 5-nerved; lemma 7-nerved |
|
|
Lower glume 1-nerved; lemma 1-3-nerved |
65 |
|
|
65. |
Lemma mucronate to shortly awned; spikelet rachilla and callus not hairy |
|
|
Lemma awnless; spikelet rachilla and callus hairy |
||
|
66. |
One glume only developed |
67 |
|
Both glumes well developed |
68 |
|
|
67. |
Spikelet with one floret; lemma 3-nerved |
|
|
Spikelet with many florets; lemma 3-nerved |
||
|
68. |
Spikelets falling entire; spikelets 6-18 mm long |
|
|
Spikelets fragmenting above glumes; spikelets less than 5.5 mm long |
69 |
|
|
69. |
Spikelets shortly pedicellate |
|
|
Spikelets sessile |
||
|
70. |
Spikelets disarticulating above glumes; rachilla extending beyond upper floret |
71 |
|
Spikelets falling with glumes; rachilla terminated by a floret |
73 |
|
|
71. |
Spikelets sessile, partially embedded in the rachis |
|
|
Spikelets pedicelled, not embedded in the rachis |
72 |
|
|
72. |
Lemmas awned; glumes not keeled |
|
|
Lemmas awnless; glumes keeled |
||
|
73. |
Inflorescence a true spike; spikelets sessile, sunken in hollows along the axis |
|
|
Inflorescence a spike-like raceme or spike-like panicle; spikelets at least shortly pedicellate and not sunken in hollows |
74 |
|
|
74. |
Spikelets burr-like with hooked spines |
|
|
Spikelets not burr-like |
||
|
75. |
Glumes usually shorter than lowest floret and with the upper florets distinctly exserted; lemmas awnless or with a straight or curved awn from an entire or bifid apex, or several-awned or lobed |
76 |
|
Glumes (or the longer one) at least as long as or longer than the lowest floret, often as long as the spikelet and enclosing the florets; lemmas awnless or more often awned from the back or from the sinus of a 2-lobed tip, the awn usually geniculate, rarely the awn straight or curved from the tip |
106 |
|
|
76. |
Lemmas 1-3-nerved |
77 |
|
Lemmas 5-many nerved |
88 |
|
|
77. |
Lemmas 3-awned |
|
|
Lemmas 1-awned or without awns |
78 |
|
|
78. |
Lemmas notched, toothed or lobed |
79 |
|
Lemmas entire |
83 |
|
| 79. | Spikelets borne in leaf-sheath axils | Psammagrostis |
| Spikelets not borne in leaf-sheath axils | 80 | |
| 80. | Lemma base often indurate, sometimes 5-nerved | Disakisperma |
| Lemma base soft and 3-nerved | 81 | |
| 81. | Ligule apex acute to attenuate | Diplachne |
| Ligule apex usually trunate to obtuse | 82 | |
|
82. |
Panicle branches arranged in racemes along rachis; ligule apex erose or entire but never ciliate |
|
|
Panicle branches digitate to sub-digitate inserted along |
||
|
83. |
Lemmas awned |
84 |
|
Lemmas not awned |
85 |
|
|
84. |
Spikelets in globose clusters; palea winged |
|
|
Spikelets in dense to loose panicles; palea not winged |
||
|
85. |
Lemmas with winged keels |
|
|
Lemmas without winged keels |
86 |
|
|
86. |
Ligule membranous |
|
|
Ligule a fringe of hairs |
87 |
|
|
87. |
Lemmas 1-nerved |
|
|
Lemmas 3-nerved |
||
|
88. |
Ovary hairy at apex |
89 |
|
Ovary glabrous at apex |
91 |
|
|
89. |
Leaf sheath margins joined |
|
|
Leaf sheath margins free |
90 |
|
|
90. |
Leaf blades 7-24 mm wide; lemmas bilobed |
|
|
Leaf blades 2-3 mm wide; lemmas 3-lobed |
||
|
91. |
Spikelets dimorphous, with bisexual spikelets surrounded by sterile ones |
92 |
|
Spikelets not dimorphous |
93 |
|
|
92. |
Spikelets disarticulating above the glumes; spikelet-bearing axes persistent |
|
|
Spikelets disarticulating with the glumes; spikelet bearing axes disarticulating |
||
|
93. |
Inflorescence a contracted panicle or a panicle of racemes |
94 |
|
Inflorescence an open panicle |
98 |
|
|
94. |
Glumes more or less equal |
95 |
|
Glumes very unequal |
97 |
|
|
95. |
Glumes not keeled |
|
|
Glumes keeled |
96 |
|
|
96. |
Leaf blades up to 3 mm long and basal, if present |
|
|
Leaf blades well developed and not mainly basal |
||
|
97. |
Glumes very dissimilar; lemmas awned |
|
|
Glumes similar; lemmas awnless |
||
|
98. |
Spikelets almost as wide as long |
|
|
Spikelets up to half as wide as long |
99 |
|
|
99. |
Lemmas ± rounded or flattened on back, at least below |
100 |
|
Lemmas keeled throughout |
101 |
|
|
100. |
Lemmas 7-9-nerved; leaf sheath margins joined |
|
|
Lemmas 5-nerved; leaf sheath margins free |
||
|
101. |
Leaves not basally aggregated; lemmas firmer than glumes, awned |
102 |
|
Leaves mostly basal; lemmas similar in texture to glumes, awnless |
103 |
|
|
102. |
Lemmas keeled; palea thinner than lemma |
|
|
Lemmas not keeled; palea with similar texture to lemma |
||
| 103 | Lemma awned | Hookerochloa |
| Lemma unawned | 104 | |
| 104. | Sheath of upper culm leaf with margins joined only at the nodal band; blades 4–15 mm wide, flat | Sylvipoa |
| Sheath of upper culm leaf with margins fused ≥1 mm or more above the nodal band; blades mostly <5 mm wide, flat to inrolled | 105 | |
| 105. | Uppermost culm sheath margins fused 1–3% of the length | Saxipoa |
| Uppermost culm sheath margins fused 25–35% of the length | Poa | |
|
106. |
Ligule membranous |
107 |
|
Ligule a fringe of hairs, ciliate membrane or ciliate at margins |
116 |
|
|
107. |
Lemmas 3-nerved |
|
|
Lemmas 5-9-nerved |
108 |
|
|
108. |
Lower floret male |
|
|
Lower floret bisexual |
109 |
|
|
109. |
Glumes more than 14 mm long |
|
|
Glumes less than 10 mm long |
110 |
|
|
110. |
Annuals |
111 |
|
Perennials |
113 |
|
|
111. |
Panicle spicate |
|
|
Panicle open |
112 |
|
| 112. |
Awn witha ring of hairs at junction of column and limb |
|
|
Awn without a ring of hairs |
*Aira |
|
|
113. |
Lemmas 4-pointed, or 2-lobed with each lobe 2-pointed |
114 |
|
Lemmas entire, 2-pointed or 2-lobed but not as above |
115 |
|
|
114. |
Glumes long relative to the adjacent lemmas; leaves mostly basal |
|
|
Glumes shorter than the adjacent lemmas; leaves not basally aggregated |
||
|
115 |
Lemma awn 4-9 mm long, geniculate |
|
|
Lemma awnless or with a short awn to 0.7 mm long |
||
|
116. |
Leaf sheaths of the lower leaves swollen and woolly or leaf blades hard, woody, needle-like |
117 |
|
Leaf sheaths of the ower leaves not swollen and woolly and leaf blades not hard, woody, needle-like |
118 |
|
|
117. |
Spikelets with 3-8 fertile florets; leaf sheaths of the lower leaves swollen and woolly |
|
|
Spikelets with 1 fertile floret; leaf blades hard, woody, needle-like |
||
|
118. |
Lemmas awnless, sometimes mucronate |
119 |
|
Lemmas distinctly awned |
123 |
|
|
119. |
Lemmas entire, if mucronate, mucros apical |
|
|
Lemmas bilobed; if mucronate, mucro is from an apical sinus |
120 |
|
|
120. |
Grain not longitudinally grooved |
|
|
Grain longitudinally grooved |
121 |
|
|
121. |
Lemma only hairy on the lower margins |
|
|
Lemma ± evenly pubescent or in tufts |
122 |
|
|
122. |
Lemma ± evenly pubescent in lower half only/td> |
|
|
Lemma with hairs over whole surface or in tufts |
||
|
123. |
Hilum ± 1/2 length of grain |
|
|
Hilum up to 1/3 length of grain |
124 |
|
|
124. |
Lemma ± evenly pubescent in lower half only |
|
|
Lemma with hairs over whole surface or in tufts |
125 |
|
|
125. |
Hairs on the lemma in two untidy rows, most of lemma surface glabrous and shiny; leaves often disarticulating from sheath |
|
|
Hairs on the lemma forming a continuous indumentum, sometimes with tufts on the upper margin; leaves not disarticulating |
126 |
|
|
126. |
Lemmas either distinctly hairy or awned |
127 |
|
Lemmas neither distinctly hairy nor awned |
131 |
|
|
127. |
Upper glume twice length of lower glume |
|
|
Glumes ± equal in length |
128 |
|
|
128. |
Glumes (3-)5-11-nerved |
|
|
Glumes 1-3-nerved |
129 |
|
|
129. |
Bisexual florets 1 per spikelet |
|
|
Bisexual florets 2 per spikelet |
130 |
|
|
130. |
Lemma awn dorsal |
|
|
Lemma awn terminal |
||
|
131. |
Both lemmas membranous, not hardened |
|
|
Lower lemma hardened |
||
|
132. |
Glumes absent or rudimentary |
133 |
|
Glumes well developed |
135 |
|
|
133. |
Spikelets 1-flowered |
|
|
Spikelets 3-flowered, the lower two reduced to sterile lemmas |
134 |
|
|
134. |
Lemma and palea leathery to indurated |
|
|
Lemma and palea membranous |
||
|
135. |
Spikelets with 3 florets, the lower two reduced to sterile or male and sometime minute lemmas |
136 |
|
Spikelets with 1 floret |
140 |
|
|
136. |
Both sterile lemma with a hinge-like appendage |
|
|
Neither sterile lemmas with an appendage |
137 |
|
|
137. |
Basal florets male |
|
|
Basal florets sterile |
138 |
|
|
138. |
Glumes minute |
|
|
Glumes relatively large |
139 |
|
|
139. |
Sterile lemmas shorter than fertile floret; glumes winged |
|
|
Sterile lemmas longer than fertile floret; glumes not winged |
||
| 140. | Glumes much longer than lemma and with long awns | Perotis |
| glumes usually shorter than lemma and if awned only slightly so | 141 | |
|
141. |
Lemma terete or dorsally compressed |
142 |
|
Lemma laterally compressed |
149 |
|
|
142. |
Lemma with a 3-branched awn (very rarely 1-branched) |
143 |
|
Lemma with a single undivided awn |
144 |
|
| 143. |
Awns glabrous |
|
|
Awns plumose |
||
|
144 |
Awn ± geniculate; spikelet base (callus) pointed, often long and pungent |
145 |
|
Awn ± straight; spikelet base (callus) short and blunt |
148 |
|
|
145. |
Lemma margins usually enclosing the palea; callus pungent; awn well developed and with a strongly-twisted column at maturity |
146 |
|
Lemma margins not completely enclosing the palea; callus blunt; awns not as robust as above and the column only weakly developed at maturity |
147 |
|
|
146. |
Hummock-forming perennial; awn almost circular in transverse section |
|
|
Annuals or perennials, not usually hummock-forming; awn flattened in transverse section |
||
|
147. |
Lemma apex and lower part of awn with hairs obscuring the base of the awn |
|
|
Lemma apex glabrous or slightly hairy, the hairs not obscuring the base of the awn |
||
|
148. |
Lemma smooth, with a deciduous awn |
|
|
Lemma strongly scabrous, with a more or less persistent awn |
||
|
149. |
Lemmas coriaceous to indurated |
150 |
|
Lemmas membranous to cartilaginous |
155 |
|
|
150 |
Lemma awns non-geniculate |
151 |
|
Lemma awns geniculate |
152 |
|
|
151. |
Lemma with a 3-branched awn (very rarely 1-branched); spikelets with one floret |
|
|
Lemma with a single awn; spikelets with 2 florets (very rarely 1) |
||
|
152. |
Lemma 1 awned and with an apical crown |
153 |
|
Lemma 3-5 awned and without an apical crown |
154 |
|
|
153. |
Awn at least 15 mm long; palea shorter than lemma, the lemma margins enclosing the palea |
|
|
Awn less than 10 mm long; palea slightly longer than lemma, the lemma margins exposing the palea |
||
|
154. |
Lemma with 5 awns |
|
|
Lemma with 3 awns |
||
|
155. |
Glumes similar in texture to and shorter than lemmas; ligule hairy to some degree |
156 |
|
Glumes firmer in texture to and as long as or longer than lemmas; ligule an unfringed membrane |
157 |
|
|
156. |
Panicle spike-like, subtended by an inflated sheath |
|
|
Panicle open to contracted, without an inflated sheath |
||
|
157. |
Spikelets falling entire |
158 |
|
Spikelets disarticulating above the glumes |
160 |
|
|
158. |
Glumes blunt, ±united |
|
|
Glumes acute or awned, distinctly separate |
159 |
|
|
159 |
Lemma 3-nerved |
|
|
Lemma 5-nerved |
||
|
160. |
Glumes swollen at base |
|
|
Glumes not swollen at base |
161 |
|
|
161. |
Glumes silky-woolly, much longer than lemma |
|
|
Glumes not silky-woolly, equal to or slightly longer than lemmas |
162 |
|
|
162. |
Spikelets at least 9 mm long |
|
|
Spikelets up to 7 mm long |
163 |
|
|
163. |
Glumes terminating abruptly, shortly awned |
164 |
|
Glumes obtuse or acute, not or scarcely awned |
165 |
|
|
164. |
Lemmas awned; inflorescence a contracted panicle |
|
|
Lemmas not awned; inflorescence a tight spike-like panicle |
||
|
165. |
Glumes with regularly arranged hairs on keel |
|
|
Glumes smooth to rough on keel, without hairs |
166 |
|
|
166. |
Lemma awns more than twice as long as lemma |
167 |
|
Lemma awns, if present, less than twice as long as lemma |
168 |
|
| 167. |
Annuals |
|
|
Perennials |
||
|
168. |
Lemmas decidedly firmer than the glumes |
|
|
Lemmas less firm than the glumes |
169 |
|
|
169. |
Glumes at least 5.5 mm long |
|
|
Glumes less than 5 mm long |
170 |
|
|
170. |
Inflorescence axis persistent; rachilla extension less than 20% of lemma length |
|
|
Inflorescence often detaching as a diaspore; rachilla extension 30-100% of lemma length |
||
|
171. |
Spikelets breaking up above the glumes |
172 |
|
Spikelets falling entire, breaking below the glumes |
173 |
|
|
172. |
Glumes very unequal; spikelets compressed laterally |
|
|
Glumes ±equal; spikelets compressed dorsiventrally |
||
|
173. |
Spikelets often dissimilar and usually paired, with one sessile and the other pedicelled (occasionally both pedicelled, but unequally, or in 3's with 2 sessile and 1 pedicelled) or rarely with the pedicelled spikelet reduced to the pedicel; upper lemma of sessile spikelet usually geniculately awned; glumes firm in texture |
174 |
|
Spikelets all alike and usually solitary, rarely paired; upper lemma not geniculately awned; glumes usually membranous |
210 |
|
| 174. |
Spikelets similar in shape and size, development of awns and sex; if different pedicelled spikelets awned and sessile unawned; pedicels and raceme joints slender |
175 |
|
Spiklets different in shape and size, development of awns and sex; if similar, pedicels and joints thickened |
183 |
|
|
|
||
|
175. |
Paired spikelets unequally pedicelled |
176 |
|
Paired spikelets with at least one sessile |
178 |
|
|
176. |
Spikelets awnless |
|
|
Spikelets awned from apex of the upper lemma |
177 |
|
|
177. |
Inflorescence a panicle, the racemes at least 10 cm long |
|
|
Inflorescence of subdigitate racemes up to 7 cm long |
||
|
178. |
Inflorescence a much branched panicle |
|
|
Inflorescence a solitary raceme, or a digitate or subdigitate cluster of racemes |
179 |
|
|
179. |
Spikelets in 3s, with 2 sessile and 1 pedicelled |
|
|
Spikelets in pairs (3s at apex), with 1 sessile and 1 pedicelled |
180 |
|
|
180. |
Sessile spikelets male; pedicelled spikelets female |
|
|
Sessile and pedicelled spikelets of the same sex |
181 |
|
|
181. |
Lower glume convex on back, not 2-keeled |
|
|
Lower glume flat or grooved on back,2-keeled |
182 |
|
|
182. |
Tufted grass with silky hairs on racemes |
|
|
Creeping grass with no hairs on racemes |
||
|
183. |
Rachis joints and pedicels thick, ± contiguous or fused together, forming cavities into which the spikelets are sunk |
184 |
|
Rachis joints and pedicels slender, or if thickened upwards, not forming cavities |
192 |
|
|
184. |
Sessile spikelet awned |
185 |
|
Sessile spikelet awnless |
187 |
|
|
185. |
Pedicelled spikelets reduced to naked pedicels |
|
|
Pedicelled spikelets developed |
186 |
|
|
186. |
Pedicels ± flat |
|
|
Pedicels swollen |
||
|
187. |
Lower glume of sessile spikelet 2-toothed |
|
|
Lower glume of sessile spikelet not 2-toothed |
188 |
|
|
188. |
Spikelets in opposite rows on axis |
Ophiuros |
|
Spikelets on one side of axis |
189 |
|
|
189. |
Spikelets of each pair similar, both bisexual; rachis not fragmenting |
|
|
Spikelets of each pair dissimilar, pedicelled male or sterile or spikelets borne singly; rachis fragmenting readily |
190 |
|
|
190. |
Lower floret of sessile spikelet male |
|
|
Lower floret of sessile spikelet sterile |
191 |
|
|
191. |
Lower glume of sessile spikelet with a row of marginal spines |
|
|
Lower glume of sessile spikelet without marginal spines |
||
|
192. |
Inflorescence with spathes, spatheoles or spathe-like sheaths enclosing or subtending inflorescence |
193 |
|
Inflorescences espatheate |
201 |
|
|
193. |
Raceme 1 jointed, reduced to 3 spikelets |
194 |
|
Racemes with several joints, with more than 3 spikelets |
195 |
|
|
194. |
Racemes in tight clusters; lemmas mucronate or shortly awned |
|
|
Racemes loose and pedunculate; lemmas with long awns |
||
|
195. |
Fertile spikelets ±compressed, the lower glume distinctly 2-keeled for most of its length |
196 |
|
Fertile spikelets ±terete, the lower glume 2-keeled only at the tip if at all |
199 |
|
|
196. |
Lower part of awn as wide as the lemma from which it arises |
|
|
Lower part of awn narrower than the lemma from which it arises |
197 |
|
|
197. |
Raceme bases terete |
|
|
Raceme bases flattened |
198 |
|
|
198. |
Racemes paired; leaves aromatic |
|
|
Racemes solitary; leaves not aromatic |
||
|
199. |
Fertile spikelets not within an involucre of male or barren spikelets |
|
|
Fertile spikelets within an involucre of male or barren spikelets |
200 |
|
|
200. |
Fertile spikelets falling with involucre or whole raceme falling as one unit; callus blunt |
|
|
Fertile spikelets falling separately from involucres; callus pungent |
||
|
201. |
Rachis joints and pedicels with a translucent mid-line between thickened margins |
202 |
|
Rachis joints and pedicels without a translucent mid-line |
203 |
|
|
202. |
Inflorescence more than once-branched |
|
|
Inflorescence an arrangement of racemes on a central axis |
||
|
203. |
Inflorescence of solitary, paired or subdigitate racemes |
204 |
|
Inflorescence a panicle |
206 |
|
|
204. |
Creeping plant with ovate leaves |
|
|
Erect plant with linear leaves |
205 |
|
|
205 |
Fertile spikelet ±cylindrical in cross-section; callus pungent |
|
|
Fertile spikelet ±compressed; callus not pungent |
||
|
206. |
Spikelets laterally compressed |
|
|
Spikelets dorsally compressed or ±cylindrical |
207 |
|
|
207. |
Pedicelled spikelet reduced to pedicel; panicle axes not terminating in spikelets |
|
|
Pedicelled spikelet developed, rarely reduced or suppressed but then panicle axes terminating in spikelets |
208 |
|
|
208. |
Pedicelled spikelets reduced to narrow, linear glumes; culm nodes glabrous or pubescent, not bearded |
|
|
Pedicelled spikelets usually well developed, rarely greatly reduced or absent, but then culm nodes bearded with stiff hairs |
209 |
|
|
209. |
Lemma awns of sessile spikelet absent or 1-1.5 cm long if present |
|
|
Lemma awns of sessile spikelet 2-9 cm long |
||
|
210. |
Inflorescence a spike or spike-like raceme or digitate pair of racemes; glumes as long as or longer than the florets |
211 |
|
Inflorescence otherwise or if a spike or raceme lower glume shorter than the florets |
216 |
|
|
211. |
Inflorescence of paired racemes (with rarely a third raceme) |
|
|
Inflorescence a single spike or raceme |
212 |
|
|
212. |
Inflorescence a spike |
|
|
Inflorescence single raceme |
213 |
|
|
213. |
Spikelets with distinct bristles from confluent tubercles |
|
|
Spikelets with indistinct bristles from single tubercles, sometimes densely hairy |
214 |
|
|
214. |
Plant shortly rhizomatous |
|
|
Plant stoloniferous |
215 |
|
| 215. |
Annuals |
|
|
Perennials |
||
|
216. |
Spikelets with awns arising from between apical lobes of upper glume and lower lemma |
|
|
Spikelets awnless or with awn arising terminally from lemmas or glumes |
217 |
|
|
217. |
Spikelets in bunches subtended by bracts |
|
|
Spikelets not in bunches subtended by bracts |
218 |
|
|
218. |
Terminal spikelets opening normally; axillary spikelets cleistogamous |
219 |
|
All spikelets opening normally |
221 |
|
|
219. |
Cleistogamous spikelets enclosed in semi-woody to woody leaf sheath |
|
|
Cleistogamous spikelets not enclosed as above |
220 |
|
| 220. |
Lower lemma of cleistogamous spikelets woody, >0.05 mm thick |
|
|
Lower lemma of cleistogamous spikelets cartilaginous,< 0.05 mm thick |
||
|
221. |
Fertile lemma densely silky hairy |
|
|
Fertile lemma not or indistinctly hairy |
222 |
|
|
222. |
Inflorescence with broad, flattened axis with spikelets on one or both sides |
223 |
|
Inflorescence otherwise |
224 |
|
|
223. |
Spikelets closely spaced on one side of inflorescence axis |
|
|
Spikelets in distinct clusters on both sides of inflorescence axis |
||
|
224.. |
Inflorescence branches ending in bristle-like appendages or spikelets subtended by bristles |
225 |
|
Inflorescence branches ending in spikelets which are not subtended by bristles |
232 |
|
|
225. |
Spikelets falling at maturity without any bristles or spines attached |
226 |
|
Spikelets falling at maturity with bristles or spines attached |
229 |
|
|
226. |
Spikelets subtended by solitary bristles or an involucre of bristles |
|
|
Spikelets in racemes terminating in bristle-like appendages |
227 |
|
|
227. |
Lower palea with wings clasping margin of upper floret |
|
|
Lower palea not winged, not clasping upper floret |
228 |
|
|
228. |
Upper lemma covered with wrinkles, as long as or longer than upper glume |
|
|
Upper lemma smooth, shorter than upper glume |
||
|
229. |
Spikelets completely surrounded by a ring of spines or bristles |
|
|
Spikelets not surrounded by spines or bristles |
230 |
|
|
230. |
Lower glume up to 1/3 spikelet length |
|
|
Lower glume more than 1/3 spikelet |
231 |
|
| 231. | Primary inflorescence branch producing simple unbranched bristles, each accompanied by a spikelet; rachilla between the glumes not distinct; pedicels less than 0.5 mm long | Paractaenum |
| Primary inflorescence branch producing 2–3 spikelets with each spikelet subtended by branched bristles; rachilla between the glumes distinct; pedicels 1.2–3.4 mm long | Plagiosetum | |
|
232. |
Upper glume and lower lemma with hooked hairs |
|
|
Upper glume and lower lemma without hooked hairs |
233 |
|
|
233. |
Spikelet with a bead-like swelling at base |
|
|
Spikelet without a bead-like swelling at base |
234 |
|
| 234. |
Upper lemma with a shallow excavation and tuft of wool at the tip |
|
|
Upper lemma rarely excavated and then not woolly |
235 |
|
|
235. |
Fertile lemma less firm or similar in texture to glumes |
236 |
|
Fertile lemma decidedly firmer than the glumes |
243 |
|
|
236. |
Lower glume 2/3 spikelet length |
237 |
|
Lower glume to 1/2 spikelet length or absent |
238 |
|
|
237. |
Inflorescence branches stiff and spreading; palea notched with a central depression |
|
|
Inflorescence consisting of only a few spikelets, with branches not stiff and spreading; palea apex not notched |
||
|
238. |
Upper glume mucronate to shortly awned |
|
|
Upper glume obtuse to acuminate, not awned or mucronate |
239 |
|
|
239. |
Palea of upper floret not completely clasped by lemma |
240 |
|
Palea of upper floret completely clasped by lemma |
241 |
|
|
240. |
Spikelet laterally compressed |
|
|
Spikelet dorsally compressed |
||
|
241. |
Lower glume minute or absent; spikelet dorsally compressed |
|
|
Lower glume c. 1/3 spikelet length; spikelet terete or ±laterally compressed |
242 |
|
|
242. |
Lower glume minute or absent; spikelet dorsally compressed |
|
|
Spikelet terete or ± laterally compressed |
||
|
243. |
Rachilla prominent between glumes and between florets |
244 |
|
Rachilla not prominent between glumes and between florets; fertile florets without appendage at base |
247 |
|
|
244. |
Rachilla swollen beneath fertile florets and usually with lateral appendages |
245 |
|
Rachilla not swollen beneath fertile florets and without lateral appendages |
246 |
|
|
245. |
Appendages fused to base of fertile floret; spikelets laterally compressed, shortly pedicelled |
|
|
Appendages, when present, free from base of fertile floret or absent; spikelets dorsally compressed, long pedicelled |
||
|
246. |
Articulations present at the bases of spikelets, pedicels and inflorescence branches; upper glume 11-nerved |
|
|
Articulations absent on pedicels and inflorescence branches; upper glume 5-7-nerved |
||
|
247. |
Inflorescence an open or contracted panicle branched more than once; spikelets not grouped along one side of ultimate branches |
248 |
|
Inflorescence once branched, the branches digitate or borne on elongated axis; spikelets grouped along one side of branches |
255 |
|
|
248 |
Glumes slightly unequal in length |
249 |
|
Glumes very unequal in length |
251 |
|
|
249. |
Spikelets 4.5-6 mm long, borne at the ends of long branches |
|
|
Spikelets 0.2-2 mm long, on short branches |
250 |
|
|
250. |
Upper glume 3-nerved; spikelets falling with glumes and compressed laterally |
|
|
Upper glume 5-9-nerved; spikelets disarticulating above glumes and compressed dorsally |
||
|
251. |
Inflorescence a spike-like panicle |
|
|
Inflorescence an open panicle |
252 |
|
|
252. |
Upper glumes somewhat shorter than spikelet |
|
|
Upper glume as long as spikelet |
253 |
|
| 253. |
Fertile floret smooth and shiny |
|
|
Fertile floret transversely rugose |
255 |
|
| 254. |
Culm base bulbous |
|
|
Culm base not bulbous |
||
|
255. |
Lower glume absent or represented by a minute scale |
256 |
|
Lower glume present |
257 |
|
|
256. |
Lower lemma adjacent to the inflorescence axis |
|
|
Lower lemma positioned away from the inflorescence axis |
||
|
257. |
Spikelets awnless or mucronate |
258 |
|
Spikelets distinctly awned |
259 |
|
|
258. |
Upper lemma rugose and verrucose |
|
|
Upper lemma smooth |
||
|
259. |
Glumes more or less equal and similar; decumbent grass of shaded habitats |
|
|
Glumes very unequal and dissimilar; erect grass of wet habitats |
You are here
Home » Dichotomous Keys » Key to Genera