1 Culm nodes , at least the lower,
bearded (often
retrorsely ).
2 Nodes with a
viscid band below the
beard ;
internodes and
sheaths velvety-
pubescent ;
vernal culm blades 9-20 cm long, 9-20 mm wide
2 Nodes without a
viscid band below the
beard ;
internodes and
sheaths glabrous , the lower sometimes sparsely hairy;
vernal culm blades 3.5-14 cm long, 7-15 mm wide
3 Second
glume and
sterile lemma acute to short-
acuminate , some in a given specimen 0.3 mm or more longer than fertile
lemma .
4 Ligule an eciliate membrane;
peduncle scabrous ; first
glume 0.3-0.6 (-0.8) mm long,
reniform to suborbicular
4 Ligule a
ciliate membrane or entirely
ciliate ;
peduncle smooth; first
glume 0.7-1.6 mm long, broadly
ovate to
lanceolate .
5 Ligule a
ciliate membrane; larger leaves 10-20 cm long;
spikelets pubescent , (2.6-) 2.8-3.4 (-3.6) mm long; first
glume (0.9-) 1.0-1.6 mm long
5 Ligule entirely
ciliate ; larger leaves 9-14 cm long;
spikelets glabrous , 2.1-2.6 mm long; first
glume 0.7-1.2 mm long
3 Second
glume and
sterile lemma blunt to subacute, shorter than, equaling, or barely exceeding fertile
lemma , never by as much as 0.3 mm.
6 Ligule ciliate , 0.2-1.1 (-2.1) mm long; leaf
blades 5-14 cm by 5-17 mm; second
glume 0-0.3 mm shorter than fertile
lemma .
7 Culms 60-150 cm long; lower
sheaths papillose -
pilose ;
panicle pulvini pubescent ;
spikelets 2.2-2.8 (-3.0) mm long; first
glume broadly
ovate ; second
glume 0.05-0.3 mm shorter than fertile
lemma
6 Ligule a
ciliate or eciliate membrane (0-) 0.3-0.9 mm long; leaf
blades 5-28 cm by 5-40 mm; second
glume 0-0.1 mm shorter than fertile
lemma .
8 Lower
sheaths papillose -
hispid with spreading
hairs ;
ligule a membrane 0.4-0.9 mm long; leaf
blades 10-28 cm long
8 Lower
sheaths glabrous ,
puberulent , or softly
villous basally;
ligule either a membrane 0-0.3 mm long or a
ciliate membrane 0.4-0.7 mm long; leaf
blades 5-18 cm long.
9 Ligule a
ciliate membrane 0.4-0.7 mm long; leaves 15-40 mm wide;
spikelets 1.6-2.0 mm wide
9 Ligule a membrane 0-0.3 mm long; leaves 5-25 mm wide;
spikelets 1.1-1.3 mm wide
10 Cauline blades 5-18 cm long, 6-14 mm wide, averaging about 10 × as long as wide, the
margins nearly parallel;
spikelets 2.9-3.7 mm long; first
glumes 1.1-2.6 mm long, 2/5 or more as long as the
spikelets
10 Cauline blades 7-12 cm long, (6-) 12-25 mm wide,
ovate -
lanceolate , averaging about 6 × as long as wide, the
margins curved most of their length;
spikelets 2.0-3.2 mm long; first
glumes 0.5-1.0 mm long, about 1/4 as long as
spikelets .
11 Culms erect;
blades more nearly symmetrical;
spikelets 2.0-3.2 mm long;
sterile lemma apex usually blunt to rounded
11 Culms basally
decumbent ;
blades strongly asymmetrical-
falcate ;
spikelets 3.0-3.2 mm long;
sterile lemma apex usually pointed
2 Leaf
blades , at least the lower,
cordate or subcordate at the
base , 4-25 mm wide.
3 Culm blades 4-12 mm wide;
spikelets obpyriform when viewed dorsally, strongly plano-
convex when viewed laterally, usually markedly reddish-purple basally; fertile
lemma papillose
3 Culm blades 5-25 mm wide;
spikelets elliptic to
elliptic -
obovoid when viewed dorsally or laterally, greenish to faintly purple-tinged basally; fertile
lemma not
papillose .
4 Ligule an eciliate membrane 0-0.3 mm long;
culm blades 5-25 cm wide;
spikelets 2.0-3.7 mm long; first
glumes 0.5-2.6 mm long.
5 Internodes crisp-
puberulent ; larger
culm blades 4-8 (-11) cm long, 5-10 (-12) mm wide, broadest near the
base ;
spikelets 2.1-2.7 mm long; first
glumes 0.7-0.9 mm long
5 Internodes glabrous to sparsely
pubescent , larger
culm blades 5-18 cm long, 5-25 mm wide, broadest near the middle or broadly
linear ;
spikelets 2.0-3.7 mm long; first
glumes 0.5-2.6 mm long.
6 Cauline blades 5-18 cm long, 6-14 mm wide, averaging about 10 × as long as wide, the
margins nearly parallel;
spikelets 2.9-3.7 mm long; first
glumes 11-26 mm long, 2/5 or more as long as the
spikelets
6 Cauline blades 7-12 cm long, (6-) 12-25 mm wide,
ovate -
lanceolate , averaging about 6 × as long as wide, the
margins curved most of their length;
spikelets 2.0-3.2 mm long; first
glumes 5-10 mm long, about 1/4 as long as
spikelets .
7 Culms erect;
blades more nearly symmetrical;
spikelets 2.0-3.2 mm long;
sterile lemma apex usually blunt to rounded
7 Culms basally
decumbent ;
blades strongly asymmetrical-
falcate ;
spikelets 3.0-3.2 mm long;
sterile lemma apex usually pointed
2 Leaf
blades tapering to the
base , 2-12 mm wide.
8 Ligule a stramineous to light brown membrane, with or without terminal
cilia .
9 Ligule a
ciliate membrane;
spikelets (2.6) 2.8-3.4 (3.6) mm long; first
glume (0.9) 1.1-1.6 mm long
9 Ligule an eciliate membrane;
spikelets 1.6-2.8 (3.0) mm long; first
glume 0.3-1.1 mm long.
10 Panicle rachis smooth,
pellucid -
punctate ; first
glume 0.3-0.6 (-0.8 ) mm long, as broad as or broader than long,
truncate to
obtuse ; larger leaves 10-25 cm long, 8-15 mm wide;
ligule 0.5-1.3 mm long; lowest elongate
culm internode > 2 mm in diameter; lowest
nodes usually
glabrous or
pubescent
10 Panicle rachis scabrous or smooth, not
pellucid -
punctate ; first
glume 0.5-1.1 mm long, longer than wide, rounded to
acute ; larger leaves 3.5-12 cm long, 3-9 mm wide;
ligule 0.1-0.6 mm long; lowest elongate
culm internode < 2 mm in diameter; lowest
nodes retrorsely bearded or
glabrous .
11 Lowest
nodes usually
retrorsely bearded ;
ligules (0.1-) 0.3-0.6 mm long; largest
vernal blades 7-12 cm long, (4.5-) 6-9 mm wide;
panicle peduncle scabrous ;
spikelets ovate -
lanceolate ,
acute , 2.0-2.4 mm long; first
glume lanceolate , blunt to
acute ; fertile
lemma smooth
11 Lowest
nodes usually
glabrous ;
ligules 0.1-0.2 (-0.3) mm long; largest
vernal blades 3.5-7 cm long, 3-6 mm wide;
panicle peduncle smooth;
spikelets elliptic , blunt to
acute , 1.6-2.2 mm long; first
glume ovate to
rotund , rounded to
acute ; fertile
lemma papillose
8 Ligule of short white
hairs or absent.
12 Leaves basally disposed, usually matted or cushion-forming, larger than the mid and upper
culm leaves;
blade margins uniformly
papillose -
ciliate ;
culms branching only at the
base , 0.5-3.5 dm tall;
internodes glabrous or sparsely
pubescent
12 Basal leaves usually
rosette -forming, not matted or cushion-forming, usually much smaller than
culm leaves;
blade margins glabrous , or
ciliate only below the middle (or sometimes
papillose -
ciliate throughout in
D. portoricense ssp.
patulum , which has densely
puberulent internodes );
culms branching at the
nodes in age, 1.5-7.5 dm tall.
13 Blades progressively longer upwards on
culm , the larger 9-20 cm long and 3-8 mm wide, (15-) 20 × or more as long as wide, firm but not stiff, not longitudinally
grooved or
wrinkled ;
blade adaxial surface (weakly-) strongly
scabrous ;
sheaths glabrous ; second
glume and
sterile lemma exceeding fertile
lemma
13 Blades similar or more often decreasing in size upwards on
culm , the larger 3-16 cm long and 2-25 mm wide; if 15 × or more as long as wide, then
blades stiff and longitudinally
grooved or
wrinkled (sect.
Angustifolia );
blade adaxial surface smooth to moderately
scabrous ;
sheaths glabrous or
pilose ; second
glume and
sterile lemma shorter than to exceeding fertile
lemma .
14 Blades of mid-
culm leaves typically long and stiff,
acuminate ,
linear or narrowly
lanceolate , usually > 10× as long as wide, only 2-6 mm wide when < 8 cm long.
15 Vegetative parts
glabrous (
spikelets pubescent , lowest
internodes and
sheaths sometimes sparsely
pubescent ,
blades and
sheaths sometimes
ciliate ); mature
panicles less than ¼ as wide as long, the branches erect-
ascending , the
spikelets often subsecund;
autumnal blades 4-10 cm long,
involute , < 2 mm wide;
spikelets 1.8-2.2 mm long.
16 Larger
vernal blades 5-8 cm long and 3-5 mm wide;
vernal panicles usually less than ¼ as wide as long,
spikelets often subsecund along the strongly
ascending to erect branches;
spikelets 1.8-2.2 mm long, second
glume and
sterile lemma pubescent , summits blunt, about equaling fertile
lemma ; [of coastal wetlands and Piedmont
prairies from NC and AR south to the Caribbean and Central America]
16 Larger
vernal blades 5-9 cm long and 2-3 mm wide;
vernal panicles usually ¼ to ½ as wide as long, the branches
ascending ;
spikelets 2.3-3.0 mm long, second
glume and
sterile lemma sparsely
pubescent to
glabrous , summits pointed to blunt, exceeding fertile
lemma ; [of c. and s. FL]
15 Vegetative parts
pubescent , at least in the lower portion of plant; mature
panicles usually more than half as wide as long, the branches spreading-
ascending , the
spikelets not noticeably subsecund;
autumnal blades 1-6 cm long,
involute and < 2 mm wide in
D. aciculare and
D. arenicoloides , or to 9 cm long, flat and 2-4 mm wide in
D. angustifolium (
autumnal blade dimensions not yet known for
D. wilcoxianum );
spikelets 1.5-3.2 mm long.
17 Culms 15-35 cm long; all
culm leaf
blades long-
hirsute on both surfaces, their
sheaths densely
papillose -
hirsute ; leaf
blades of the primary branches often exceeding the immature
vernal panicles
17 Culms 15-75 cm long;
culm leaf
blades glabrous to sparsely
pubescent , or the lower softly
villous abaxially in
D. arenicoloides ; lower
sheaths usually
villous , mid-
culm and upper
sheaths glabrous (though often
ciliate basally); leaf
blades of primary branches not exceeding immature
vernal panicles .
18 Spikelets (3.0-) 3.2-3.8 mm long,
fusiform , pointed at summit,
attenuate at
base , with both
glumes attached 0.3-0.5 mm below
sterile lemma , the
autumnal spikelets 3.5-3.8 mm long; larger
vernal leaf
blades 3-6 mm wide, the lower and mid-
culm leaf
blades of similar width;
autumnal leaf
blades involute
18 Spikelets 1.8-3.1 mm long,
obovate , blunt, and the
base not
attenuate (except in
D. arenicoloides with
autumnal spikelets 2.3-3.1 mm long); larger
vernal leaf
blades 2-8 mm wide, the lower usually wider and often shorter than mid-
culm leaf
blades ;
autumnal leaf
blades involute or flat.
19 Longest
vernal blades to 16 cm, widest
vernal leaf
blades 4-8 mm, usually longitudinally
wrinkled ;
vernal and
autumnal spikelets 2.3-3.1 mm long;
autumnal leaf
blades flat, the larger to 9 cm by 2-4 mm
19 Longest
vernal leaf
blades to 6 cm (
D. aciculare ) or 12 cm (
D. arenicoloides ) long, 2-5 mm wide, not noticeably
wrinkled ;
vernal spikelets 1.5-2.8 mm long,
autumnal spikelets either 1.5-2.3 (
D. aciculare ) or 2.3-3.1 (
D. arenicoloides );
autumnal leaf
blades involute , the larger to 6 cm by 1.5 mm.
20 Longest
vernal leaf
blades to 12 cm, widest
vernal leaf
blades 3-4 (-5) mm;
vernal spikelets 2.1-2.8 mm long;
autumnal spikelets 2.3-3.1 mm long, pointed,
attenuate , the
glumes attached 0.3-0.5 mm below
sterile lemma ; first
glumes 0.7-1.5 mm long; larger
autumnal leaf
blades to 6 cm by 1.5 mm
20 Longest
vernal leaf
blades to 6 (-8) cm, widest
vernal leaf
blades 2-5 mm;
vernal and
autumnal spikelets 1.7-2.3 mm long, blunt, not
attenuate , the
glumes attached < 0.2 mm below
sterile lemma ; first
glumes 0.6-0.9 mm long; larger
autumnal leaf
blades to 3 cm by 1 mm
14 Blades of mid-
culm leaves
lanceolate , thin or firm but not stiff, usually < 10× as long as wide, usually 7 mm or more wide when as much as 8 cm long.
21 Spikelet bases strongly
attenuate ,
apices blunt to beaked; first
glume (2/5-) ½-2/3 (-4/5) as long as
spikelet , attached 0.3-0.5 (-0.7) mm below expansion of second
glume and
sterile lemma
21 Spikelet bases not noticeably
attenuate ,
apices rounded to
acute ; first
glume < ½ as long as
spikelet , attached < 0.3 mm below expansion of second
glume and
sterile lemma .
22 Spikelets 2.9-3.8 mm long, broadly
elliptic , rounded at the summit, with broad and thick
nerves
22 Spikelets 2.1-2.9 mm long,
elliptic or
obovate , rounded or pointed at the summit, the
nerves often raised, but not broad and thick.
24 Culms 50-150 cm long; at least lowest
sheaths papillose -
pilose .
25 Lowest
internodes usually purple-
villous ;
nodes retrorsely (-spreading)
bearded ;
spikelets 1.8-2.2 mm long, moderately densely
pubescent ; first
glume broadly
ovate , subacute, 0.4-0.7 mm long, usually < 1.5 × as long as wide; second
glume about as long as
sterile and fertile
lemmas ; fertile
lemma 1.7-1.8 mm long
25 Lowest
internodes glabrous or
pubescent or spreading
villous , usually not purplish;
nodes glabrous , sparsely
pubescent to sparsely
bearded ;
spikelets 2.2-2.8 (-3.0) mm long, sparsely
pubescent ; first
glume 0.7-1.1 mm long, usually > 1.5 × as long as wide; second
glume shorter than
sterile and fertile
lemmas ; fertile
lemma 2.1-2.2 mm long
24 Culms 18-100 cm long;
sheaths glabrous or the lowest softly
pubescent but not
papillose -
pilose .
26 Spikelets strongly plano-
convex when viewed laterally,
obpyriform when viewed dorsally, (2.1-) 2.2-2.6 mm long; fertile
lemma and
palea papillose or smooth; first
glume usually broadened above
base , rounded or broadly tapered distally;
glume bases often reddish-purple.
27 Culm leaves 2-5 mm wide; fertile
lemma and
palea smooth, shiny
27 Culm leaves 4-12 mm wide; fertile
lemma and
palea papillose -roughened
26 Spikelets biconvex to
elliptic when viewed laterally, variously shaped but not
obpyriform when viewed dorsally; fertile
lemma and
palea smooth or
reticulate (or
papillose in D. lucidum with weak and
sprawling culms and
spikelets 1.7-2.3 mm long); first
glume usually tapered from near
base to
apex ;
glume bases various
23 Culm internodes crisp-
puberulent (sparsely so in
D. webberianum) ;
sheaths puberulent or
glabrous .
28 Spikelets elliptic , sub-
acute to pointed, greenish or faintly purple-tinged basally
28 Spikelets strongly plano-
convex when viewed laterally,
obpyriform when viewed dorsally, broadly rounded, usually markedly reddish-purple basally.
29 Fertile
lemma and
palea papillose ;
spikelets 2.2-2.6 mm long; lower
culm blades 6-12 mm wide,
glabrous
29 Fertile
lemma and
palea smooth (minutely
reticulate but not
papillose );
spikelets (1.8) 1.9-2.2 (-2.5) mm long; lower
culm blades 2-8 mm wide,
glabrous ,
glabrate , or
puberulent (especially abaxially)
1 Longer
hairs of
ligule 2-5 mm long.
2 Ligule with a distinct ring of short
hairs in front of the long
hairs .
3 Peduncle ,
panicle axis , and
sheaths puberulent with
hairs 0.1 mm long; larger
blades 3-6 cm long, 3-5 mm wide;
spikelets 1.3-1.7 mm long
3 Peduncle ,
panicle axis , and
sheaths pubescent with
hairs more than 0.1 mm long; larger
blades 12-20 cm long, 7-9 mm wide;
spikelets 1.9-2.3 mm long
2 Ligule without a distinct ring of short
hairs in front of the long
hairs .
4 Culms > 100 cm long;
node pubescence densely
retrorse ; larger
blades 12-20 cm long;
vernal spikelets 1.9-2.3 mm long, nearly 2× as long as wide;
autumnal spikelets 2.2-2.5 mm long, > 2× as long as wide
4 Culms < 100 cm long (-rarely longer);
node pubescence various; larger
blades 3-12 cm long;
spikelets (1.0-) 1.1-2.0 mm long, less than 2 × as long as wide, rounded to blunt.
5 Blades of mid-
culm leaves
lanceolate , thin or firm but not stiff, length and width various, less than 15× as long as wide
5 Blades of mid-
culm leaves
linear or narrowly
lanceolate , stiff,
acuminate , often
involute , 4-10 cm long, 2-5 mm wide, about 15-20× as long as wide
1 Longer
hairs of
ligule < 2 mm long.
6 Culm leaves basally
crowded ,
ascending , usually matted or cushion-forming, larger than the mid and upper
culm blades .
7 Sheaths conspicuously
retrorsely long-
pilose ; longer
blades 6-18 cm long and 7-12 mm wide;
spikelets (1.4-) 1.9-2.3 (-2.5) mm long
7 Sheaths variously
pubescent or
glabrous , but not conspicuously
retrorsely long-
pilose ; longer
blades 2-6 cm long and 1-8 mm wide;
spikelets 0.9-2.1 mm long.
8 Leaf
blades 1-4 mm wide,
glabrous , the
margins eciliate or basally
ciliate ;
spikelets 0.9-1.5 mm long,
glabrous ;
autumnal form branched from lower and mid
nodes as well as from
basal nodes .
9 Leaf
blades 1.5-4 (-5) cm long;
spikelets 0.9-1.2 (-1.4) mm long
9 Leaf
blades 4-12 (-20) cm long, some at least 7 cm long;
spikelets 1.2-1.5 mm long
8 Leaf
blades 2-10 mm wide,
pubescent or
glabrous , the
margins coarsely
papillose -
ciliate throughout;
spikelets 1.1-2.1 mm long,
glabrous or
pubescent ;
autumnal form branched from
basal nodes only.
10 Spikelets pubescent , 1.5-2.1 mm long;
blade surfaces
glabrous
11 Leaf
blades glabrous , or sparsely
pilose only near the
adaxial base ;
spikelets 1.4-2.1 mm long
11 Leaf
blades pilose , at least abaxially;
spikelets 1.1-1.6 mm long
6 Culm leaves not basally
crowded , the lowest leaves spreading and
rosette -forming, usually smaller than the
culm leaves.
12 Blades progressively longer upwards on
culm , the larger 9-20 cm long and 3-8 mm wide, (15-) 20 × or more as long as wide, firm but not stiff, not longitudinally
grooved or
wrinkled ;
blade adaxial surface (weakly-) strongly
scabrous ;
sheaths glabrous ; second
glume and
sterile lemma exceeding fertile
lemma
12 Blades similar or more often decreasing in size upwards on
culm ; if 15 × or more as long as wide, then larger
blades 4-10 cm long and 2-5 mm wide, stiff and longitudinally
grooved or
wrinkled (sect.
Angustifolia );
blade adaxial surface smooth to moderately
scabrous ;
sheaths glabrous or
pilose ; second
glume and
sterile lemma shorter than to equaling fertile
lemma .
13 Blades of mid-
culm leaves
linear or narrowly
lanceolate , stiff,
acuminate , often
involute , 4-10 cm long, 2-5 mm wide, about 15-20× as long as wide.
14 Ligule less than 1 mm long;
nodes glabrous to sparsely
pubescent , not
bearded ;
blades glabrous (lowest sometimes sparsely
pilose );
autumnal blades involute
14 Ligule (1-) 1.5-2 (-2.5) mm long;
nodes bearded with spreading-
ascending hairs ;
blades moderately
hirsute ;
autumnal blades flat
13 Blades of mid-
culm leaves
lanceolate to lance-
elliptic , thin or firm but not stiff, length and width various, < 15× as long as wide.
16 Ligule 0.7-1.5 mm long; first
glume acute ;
spikelets elliptic when viewed dorsally,
biconvex or
elliptic when viewed laterally, not strongly nerved
16 Ligule < 0.5 mm long; first
glume obtuse to
truncate ;
spikelets obovate when viewed dorsally, plano-
convex when viewed laterally, strongly nerved.
17 Spikelets (1.8-) 1.9-2.2 (-2.5) mm long; first
glume 0.8-1.2 mm long; lower
culm blades 2-8 mm wide
17 Spikelets 1.5-1.8 mm long; first
glume 0.5-0.8 mm long; lower
culm blades 2-5 mm wide
15 Internodes variously hairy but not crisp-
puberulent .
18 Culms (55-) 70-140 cm long;
nodes retrorsely bearded ;
vernal cauline leaves 6-15;
blades 6-15 cm long, 8-13 mm wide,
glabrous
18 Culms < 60 cm long;
nodes not
retrorsely bearded ;
vernal cauline leaves 2-7;
blades to 14 cm long and 17 mm wide,
glabrous or
pubescent .
19 Internodes (sparsely-) moderately to densely
pubescent to
pilose ;
ligule 1-5 mm long;
blade margins either weakly
ciliate ,
papillose -
ciliate basally only, or eciliate, lacking a white-beige
cartilaginous edge 0.2 mm wide.
20 Larger mid-
culm blades 4-7 cm long, 4-7 mm wide,
glabrous to sparsely
pubescent adaxially;
ligule 1-5 mm long;
spikelets 1.1-1.5 mm long
20 Larger mid-
culm blades 3-6 cm long, 3-5 mm wide, long-
pilose adaxially;
ligule often with a ring of
hairs < 1 mm and scattered longer
hairs to 4 mm;
spikelets 1.3-1.7 mm long
19 Internodes sparsely
pilose ;
ligule < 1 mm long;
blade margins various.
21 Blades 1.5-6 (8) cm by 2-8 mm, basally narrowed to rounded,
blade margins either coarsely
papillose -
ciliate throughout or
glabrous with a white-beige
cartilaginous edge about 0.2 mm wide.
22 Blades with white-beige
cartilaginous margins 0.2 mm wide;
spikelets 1.4-1.7 mm long;
autumnal form branching from middle and upper
nodes
22 Blade margins coarsely
papillose -
ciliate throughout;
spikelets 1.1-2.1 mm long;
autumnal form branching from the
base .
23 Spikelets pubescent , 1.5-2.1 mm long;
blade surfaces
glabrous
24 Blades glabrous , or sparsely
pilose only near the
adaxial base ;
spikelets 1.4-1.8 mm long
24 Blades pilose ;
spikelets 1.1-1.6 mm long
2 Ligule (1.5-) 2-5 mm long;
sheaths glabrous to variously
pubescent ;
internodes glabrous or
pubescent ;
nodes glabrous , or
bearded with
ascending , spreading, or tangled
hairs ; leaves 3-10 cm long, 3-10 mm wide;
spikelets 0.8-1.9 mm long
2 Ligule 1-2 mm long;
sheaths sparsely to moderately spreading short-
pilose ;
internodes glabrous ;
nodes retrorsely bearded ; leaves 1-4 cm long, 2-5 mm wide;
spikelets 1.2-1.4 mm long
3 Basal leaves
rosette -forming, usually much smaller than the
culm leaves, not matted or cushion-forming;
culms branching at the mid and upper
nodes in age.
4 Blades of mid-
culm leaves typically long and
acuminate ,
linear or narrowly
lanceolate , usually 10-20× as long as wide, only 2-5 mm wide when < 8 cm long.
5 Vernal leaf
blades 9-20 cm long, the larger usually 5-8 mm wide, becoming longer upwards on the
culm , (weakly-) strongly
scabrous on the
adaxial surface;
spikelets sparsely
pubescent to
glabrous
5 Vernal leaf
blades to 11(14) cm long, those on the upper
culm smaller or similar in size to those below, the
adaxial surface not
scabrous except sometimes on the
margins (or
scabrous in D. neuranthum with leaves no more than 5 mm wide and
spikelets moderately
glandular papillose -
pubescent ).
6 Spikelets (
glandular -)
papillose -
pubescent ;
blades 1-3 (-5) mm wide; first
glume 0.8-1.0 mm long;
culms to 4 dm tall
6 Spikelets glabrous ;
blades 3-8 mm wide; first
glume 0.3-1.1 mm long;
culms to 10 dm tall.
7 Leaves 3-8 mm wide;
panicle (8-) 20-40 mm wide; first
glume 0.6-1.1 mm long, blunt to
acute
7 Leaves 3-5.5 mm wide;
panicle 2-5 mm wide; first
glume 0.3-0.4 mm long,
truncate to
obtuse
4 Blades of mid-
culm leaves
lanceolate , mostly 10× or less as long as wide, usually 7 mm or more wide when as much as 8 cm long.
8 Spikelets elliptic ,
oblong , or
obovate ; lower
culm blades 3-12 (-15) mm wide, thin, tapered to the
base ; plants often freely branching in age, becoming top-heavy with a mass of
fascicled , reduced leafy branches and
inflorescences
8 Spikelets broadly
elliptic to suborbicular; lower
culm blades 6-30 mm wide, broad and
cordate to subcordate at the
base ; plants sparingly branched in age, not becoming top-heavy with
fascicled , reduced leafy branches and
inflorescences .
9 Leaf
blades thickish;
ligule obsolete or with
cilia < 0.8 mm long;
spikelets 0.9-1.9 mm long,
obovoid to
spherical , rounded; first
glumes 0.2-0.8 mm long.
10 Spikelets 0.9-1.2 mm long; longer
blades 6-8 cm long, erect to erect-
ascending
10 Spikelets 1.2-1.9 mm long; longer
blades 8-20 cm long,
ascending or the uppermost erect.
11 Mid-
culm blades to 25 cm long, 14-30 mm wide, the uppermost 10-15+ cm long;
vernal panicles to 20 cm long, often less than half as wide as long;
spikelets 1.3-1.6 (-1.7)
11 Mid-
culm blades to 10 cm long, 5-11 (-14) mm wide, the uppermost 3-9 cm long;
vernal panicles to 14 cm long, usually more than half as wide as long;
spikelets (1.4-) 1.5-1.8 mm long
3 Basal leaves similar to or larger than the mid and upper
culm leaves, often matted or cushion-forming;
culms branching at the
base (also at mid and upper
nodes in
D. chamaelonche vars. and
D. dichotomum var.
glabrifolium ).
12 Longer
blades > 6 cm; if only 6 cm, then
sheaths retrorsely long-
pilose (
D. laxiflorum ).
13 Spikelets 1.2-1.5 mm long,
glabrous
13 Spikelets 1.7-2.3 (-2.8) mm long,
pubescent .
14 Longer
blades 6-18 cm long by 7-12 mm wide;
sheaths conspicuously
retrorsely long-
pilose ;
nodes bearded with
retrorse or spreading
hairs ;
spikelets (1.4-) 1.9-2.3 (-2.5) mm long
14 Longer
blades 10-35 cm long by 2-6 mm wide;
sheaths glabrous to variously
pilose , but not conspicuously
retrorsely long-
pilose ;
nodes variously
pubescent to
glabrate ;
spikelets 1.7-2.3 (-2.8) mm long.
15 Fresh plants light green to blue-green; leaf
sheaths usually
pilose ;
ligule of largest
culm leaves 3-6× as wide as long;
culm blades to 35 cm long, usually
pilose on the upper surface
15 Fresh plants darker green; leaf
sheaths usually
glabrous ;
ligule of largest
culm leaves usually > 6× as wide as long;
culm blades to 15 cm long, usually
glabrate to
glabrous on the upper surface
16 Blades 1-3 mm wide,
glabrous , eciliate or basally
ciliate ;
spikelets 0.9-1.4 mm long.
17 Spikelets pubescent , 1.2-1.4 mm long;
blades involute , often
falcate , 2.5-6 cm long; [
endemic to c. and s. FL scrub]
17 Spikelets glabrous , 0.9-1.2 mm long;
blades flat, not
falcate , 1.5-4 (-5) cm long; [wet sites, VA s. to FL, w. to e. LA]
16 Blades 3-8 mm wide;
spikelets 1.1-2.1 mm long (if < 1.5 mm, then
blades either
pubescent on one or both surfaces or
ciliate to the
apex ).
18 Spikelets pubescent , 1.5-2.1 mm long;
blade surfaces
glabrous
19 Blades glabrous , or sparsely
pilose only near the
adaxial base ;
spikelets 1.4-2.1 mm long
19 Blades pilose , at least abaxially;
spikelets 1.1-1.6 mm long