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Key to Dichanthelium, Key A: Plants densely tufted, often cushion-forming; leaves basally disposed, the blades ascending or spreading-ascending,
not forming a distinct rosette of basal leaves shorter than the culm leaves; autumnal culms branching basally or from the lower nodes

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1 Spikelets 2.4-4.5 mm long.
..2 Nodes, internodes, and sheaths glabrous; blades 4-13 cm long, 5-8 mm wide, the surfaces smooth, glabrous; spikelets 2.4-2.9 mm long, glabrous; not known to produce axillary (autumnal) inflorescences
..2 Nodes bearded or otherwise pubescent; internodes and sheaths variously pubescent to glabrate; blades 6-35 cm long, 2-6 mm wide, one or both surfaces scabrous and often pubescent; spikelets 1.7-4.5 mm long, glabrous or pubescent; plants produce axillary (autumnal) inflorescences.
....3 Spikelets 2.8-3.8 (-4.5) mm long, the second glume and sterile lemma pointed or beaked and extended beyond the summit of the fertile lemma; first glume 1.2-2 mm long
....3 Spikelets 1.7-2.8 mm long, the second glume and sterile lemma blunt or broadly pointed, not extending beyond the summit of the fertile lemma; first glume 0.7-1.2 mm long
......4 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
......4 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
1 Spikelets 0.9-2.3 mm long.
........5 Longer blades > 6 cm; if only 6 cm, then sheaths, especially the lower, retrorsely long-pilose (D. laxiflorum).
..........6 Spikelets 1.2-1.5 mm long, glabrous
..........6 Spikelets (1.4-) 1.7-2.3 (-2.8) mm long, pubescent.
............ 7 Longer blades 10-35 cm long, 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
............ ..8 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
............ ..8 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
............ 7 Longer blades 6-18 cm long, 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
........5 Longer blades 1.5-6 cm; sheaths glabrous or pubescent, but not retrorsely long-pilose.
............ ....9 Blades 1-3 mm wide, glabrous, eciliate or basally ciliate; spikelets 0.9-1.2 (-1.4) mm long.
image of plant
Show caption*© Scott Ward
............ ......10 Spikelets pubescent, 1.2-1.4 mm long; blades involute, often falcate, 2.5-6 cm long; [endemic to c. and s. FL scrub]
image of plant
Show caption*© Scott Ward
............ ......10 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]
............ ....9 Blades 3-8 mm wide; spikelets 1.1-2.1 mm long (or if < 1.5 mm long, then blades either pubescent on one or both surfaces or ciliate to the apex).
............ ........11 Spikelets pubescent, 1.5-2.1 mm long; blade surfaces glabrous
............ ........11 Spikelets glabrous, 1.1-1.8 mm long; blade surfaces pubescent or glabrous.
............ ..........12 Blades glabrous, or sparsely pilose only near the adaxial base; spikelets 1.4-1.8 mm long
............ ..........12 Blades pilose, at least abaxially; spikelets 1.1-1.6 mm long

Key to Dichanthelium, Key F: Spikelets 0.8-2.0 mm long, lower culm internodes variously hairy

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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; spikelets 1.9-2.3 mm long, 2 × or more as long as wide, acute
......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
............ ......10 Spikelets glabrous, 1.1-1.8 mm long; blade surfaces pubescent or 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.
............ ............ ....15 Internodes crisp-puberulent.
............ ............ ......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 5-14 cm by 5-17 mm, basally truncate to cordate, margins only ciliate basally if at all, without a white-beige margin up to 0.2 mm wide
............ ............ ............ ....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
............ ............ ............ ........23 Spikelets glabrous, 1.1-1.8 mm long; blade surfaces pubescent or glabrous.
............ ............ ............ ..........24 Blades glabrous, or sparsely pilose only near the adaxial base; spikelets 1.4-1.8 mm long

Key to Dichanthelium, Key G: Spikelets 0.8-2.0 mm long, lower culm internodes glabrous

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1 Ligule 1-5 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
1 Ligule < 1 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 not noticeably thick; ligules ciliate, to 0.8 mm long; spikelets 1.8-2.6 mm long, elliptic, obtuse to subacute; first glumes 0.5-1.0 mm long
............ ....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
............ ..........12 Longer blades 1.5-6 cm; sheaths glabrous or pubescent, but not retrorsely long-pilose.
............ ............ ......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
............ ............ ..........18 Spikelets glabrous, 1.1-1.8 mm long; blade surfaces pubescent or 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

Key to Dichanthelium, Key to the Dichanthelium dichotomum group

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1 Lower cauline nodes bearded, the hairs usually retrorse.
..2 Spikelets glabrous.
....3 Ligule an eciliate membrane; fertile lemma and palea densely papillose at 20×; leaves 3.5-7 cm long by 3-6 mm wide; culms weak, usually sprawling over other vegetation
....3 Ligule ciliate; fertile lemma and palea smooth, with few or no papillae; leaves either 1.5-4 (-5) cm long by 1-5 mm wide, or 5-12 cm long by 3-15 mm wide.
......4 Spikelets 0.9-1.4 mm long; vernal cauline blades 1.5-4 (-5) cm long and 1-5 mm wide; internodes or sheaths glabrous or pubescent.
........5 Spikelets 0.9-1.2 (-1.4) mm long; sheaths glabrous; vernal cauline blades 1-2 (-3) mm wide; ligule < 1 mm long; node beard hairs erect and often only partially encircling the node; internodes glabrous or puberulent
........5 Spikelets 1.2-1.4 mm long; sheaths spreading-pilose; vernal cauline blades 2-5 mm wide; ligule 1-2 mm long; node beard hairs usually spreading or reflexed; internodes glabrous
......4 Spikelets 1.4-2.3 mm long; vernal cauline blades 5-12 cm long and 3-15 mm wide; internodes and sheaths glabrous.
..........6 Spikelets 1.8-2.3 mm long; first glume 0.6-1.1 mm long; fertile lemma 0.8-1.0 mm wide; widest vernal blades 3-8 (-10) mm wide; nodes, often only the lower, usually sparsely to moderately bearded with retrorse hairs
..........6 Spikelets 1.4-1.9 mm long; first glume 0.3-0.6 (-0.7) mm long; fertile lemma 0.6-0.8 mm wide; widest vernal blades 7-15 mm wide; usually all nodes densely bearded with retrorse hairs
..2 Spikelets pubescent.
............ 7 Spikelets 1.2-1.4 mm long; sheaths spreading-pilose; vernal cauline blades 1-4 cm long and 2-5 mm wide; ligule 1-2 mm long
............ 7 Spikelets 1.4-2.8 mm long; sheaths glabrous to pilose; vernal cauline blades 5-15 cm long and 5-15 mm wide; ligule ≤ 1 mm long.
............ ..8 Culms(55-) 70-140 cm long; lowest internodes moderately to densely villous; vernal cauline leaves 6-15; blades glabrous except for basal cilia; spikelets 1.8-2.2 mm long, obovoid to broadly ellipsoid, rounded to blunt
............ ..8 Culms 30-110 cm long; lowest internodes glabrous to sparsely hairy; vernal cauline leaves 3-7; spikelets 1.4-2.8 mm long, elliptic to lance-ovate, blunt to acute.
............ ....9 Usually all culm nodes bearded; internodes glabrous, or middle and upper internodes and peduncle sparsely to moderately spreading short-hairy, sometimes also glandular; upper as well as lower vernal sheaths and both surfaces of cauline blades pubescent, often densely so; spikelets (1.5-) 1.8-2.2 mm long; [of dry rocky or sandy basic soil and barrens]
............ ....9 Often only lower culm nodes bearded; internodes glabrous; at least middle and upper cauline blades glabrous; spikelets 1.4-2.8 mm long; [mostly of wet acid soils and mesic to dry woodlands].
............ ......10 Spikelets (2.0-) 2.2-2.8 mm long; first glume 0.5-1.3 mm long; fertile lemma 1.8-2.3 mm long; lowest vernal cauline blades pubescent at least abaxially
............ ......10 Spikelets 1.4-2.2 mm long; first glume 0.3-0.9 mm long; fertile lemma 1.4-1.7 mm long; lowest vernal cauline blades glabrous.
............ ........11 Spikelets 1.7-2.2 mm long; first glume 0.6-0.9 mm long; fertile lemma 0.7-1.0 mm wide
............ ........11 Spikelets 1.4-1.9 mm long; first glume 0.3-0.6 (-0.8) mm long; fertile lemma 0.6-0.8 mm wide
1 Lower cauline nodes glabrous or puberulent, but not bearded.
............ ..........12 Spikelets pubescent.
............ ............ 13 Spikelets (1.5-) 1.7-2.7 mm long, if shorter than 1.8 mm then fertile lemma and palea densely papillose; culms soon sprawling.
............ ............ ..14 Spikelets (1.5-) 1.7-2.3 mm long, glabrous (rarely pubescent); first glume 0.7-1.1 mm long; fertile lemma and palea densely papillose at 20×
............ ............ ..14 Spikelets 2.2-2.7 mm long, pubescent; first glume 1.0-1.4 mm long; fertile lemma and palea smooth or with a few weak papillae at 20×
............ ............ 13 Spikelets 1.2-1.7 mm long; fertile lemma and palea smooth; culms erect.
............ ............ ....15 Leaf blades involute and often falcate, 3-6 cm long, about 1.5 mm wide when flattened, 20-50× as long as wide; lower internodes often strigose; spikelets 1.2-1.4 mm long; culms 5-20 cm long; [endemic to c. and s. FL scrub]
............ ............ ....15 Leaf blades neither involute (except apically) nor falcate, 1-7 cm long, 1.5-7 mm wide, about 10× as long as wide; lower internodes glabrous or sparsely pilose, but not strigose; spikelets 1.1-1.7 mm long; culms 15-60 cm long; [wet sites, collectively widespread in coastal plain from NJ to TX and sparsely inland]
............ ............ ......16 Leaf blades (3-) 4-6 (-9) per culm, pliable, 1-3.5 (-5) cm long, 1.5-4 mm wide, the margins flat and sharp-edged, gray-green to white-beige, 0.1 mm wide or less; spikelets 1.2-1.5 mm long, pubescent or glabrous; culms to 40 cm long
............ ............ ......16 Leaf blades 3-4 per culm, firm, 2-6 (-8) cm long, 2-6 (-8) mm wide, at least one margin cartilaginously thickened, the edge usually rounded, white-beige to green-stramineous, 0.1-0.2 mm wide; spikelets (1.1-) 1.3-1.7 mm long, pubescent; culms to 60 cm long
............ ..........12 Spikelets glabrous.
............ ............ ........17 Cauline leaves mostly basally disposed, strongly ascending, much larger than the 2-3 remote middle and upper cauline leaves of fertile culms; spikelets 2.4-2.9 mm long; culms branch from basal and lower nodes, but are not known to produce autumnal inflorescences; [Wet pine savannas and seepages; endemic to Gulf Coastal Plain]
............ ............ ........17 Cauline leaves well-distributed along the culm, > 3, gradually reduced upward and often spreading; spikelets 0.9-2.6 mm long; culms produce autumnal inflorescences from lower, middle, and/or upper nodes, if from lower only, then spikelets only 0.9-1.2 mm long; [collectively widespread, habitats various].
............ ............ ..........18 Fertile lemma and palea densely papillose; ligule usually ciliate, rarely an eciliate membrane 0.1-0.3 mm long; culms weak, soon sprawling over vegetation
............ ............ ..........18 Fertile lemma and palea smooth, with few or no papillae; ligule always ciliate.
............ ............ ............ 19 Spikelets 0.9-1.5 mm long; vernal blades 1-4 mm wide; culms stiffer, erect to ascending.
............ ............ ............ ..20 Spikelets 0.9-1.2 (-1.4) mm long; blades 1.5-4 (-5) cm long, 1-2.5 (-3) mm wide, mostly 15-20 times as long as wide; autumnal plants cushion-forming
............ ............ ............ ..20 Spikelets 1.2-1.5 mm long; blades 1-12 (-20) cm long; autumnal plants not cushion-forming.
............ ............ ............ ....21 Leaf blades 1-3 (-5) cm long, 1.5-3 (-4) mm wide, about 10 times as long as wide; autumnal plants sparsely tufted
............ ............ ............ ....21 Leaf blades 4-12 (-20) cm long (the longer at least 7 cm), 2-4 mm wide, 20-30 (-50) times as long as wide
............ ............ ............ 19 Spikelets 1.4-2.6 mm long; vernal blades 3-15 mm wide (if spikelets < 1.6 mm long and vernal blades < 5 mm wide, then larger blades > 5 cm long in D. caerulescens).
............ ............ ............ ......22 Widest vernal cauline blades 7-15 mm wide; upper sheaths often glutinous-warty; spikelets 2.1-2.6 mm long, some or most acute to beaked, second glume and sterile lemma extending 0.3-0.5 mm beyond fertile lemma in at least some spikelets
............ ............ ............ ......22 Widest vernal cauline blades 3-10 mm wide; upper sheaths not glutinous-warty; spikelets 1.4-2.3 mm long, blunt to subacute, second glume and sterile lemma often equal to or shorter than fertile lemma, or extending < 0.3 mm beyond it.
............ ............ ............ ........23 Spikelets 1.4-1.8 mm long; first glume 0.3-0.8 mm long; fertile lemma 1.3-1.5 mm long; mature vernal panicles usually short-exserted with ascending branches; fresh foliage bluish-glaucous
............ ............ ............ ........23 Spikelets 1.7-2.3 mm long; first glume 0.6-1.1 mm long; fertile lemma 1.6-1.9 mm long; mature vernal panicles exserted with spreading branches; fresh foliage not bluish-glaucous.
............ ............ ............ ..........24 Vernal panicle smooth to weakly scabrous, the scabrousness usually confined to the pedicels; vernal cauline blades spreading to deflexed, flexuous; autumnal form densely bushy-fascicled, essentially forming one large mass of clustered leaves [of wet-mesic to dry woods and thickets]
............ ............ ............ ..........24 Vernal panicle moderately to densely scabrous, increasingly so from rachis to branches to pedicels; vernal cauline blades stiffly erect; autumnal fascicles forming isolated clusters of leaves [of wet pine savannas and open swamps]
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