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Key to Bothriochloa

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1 Sessile spikelets 4.5-8.5 mm long
  2 Rachises 5-10 cm long, with many branches
  2 Rachises usually < 5 cm long, with 3-8 branches
1 Sessile spikelets 3-4.5 mm long.
    3 Pedicellate spikelets much shorter than the sessile spikelets.
      4 Panicles reddish when mature; hairs below the sessile spikelets sparse and ca. ¼ as long as the spikelets, not obscuring the spikelets
      4 Panicles silvery-white or tannish when mature, hairs below the sessile spikelets dense and > ½ as long as the spikelets, somewhat obscuring the spikelets
        5 Panicles 4-12 (-14) cm long; sessile spikelets 3-4× as long as thick; leaves basally disposed; culm usually < 2 mm in diameter
        5 Panicles 9-20 cm long; sessile spikelets 4-6× as long as thick; leaves evenly distributed on the culm; culm usually 2-4 mm in diameter
    3 Pedicellate spikelets about as long as the sessile spikelets.
          6 Primary rachises of the inflorescence longer than the lateral inflorescence branches
          6 Primary rachises of the inflorescence shorter than the lateral inflorescence branches.
             7 Lower glumes of the sessile spikelets with a dorsal pit
             7 Lower glumes of the sessile spikelets without a dorsal pit