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Key to Paspalum

Poaceae

Paspalum

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1 Both lower and upper glumes absent, or upper glume present on terminal spikelet only of a panicle branch.
  2 Plants stoloniferous; culms to 40 cm long; blades to 4 mm wide; spikelets 3.8-5.2 mm long, apex acuminate; upper glume sometimes present on terminal spikelet of a panicle branch
  2 Plants cespitose; culms to 200 cm long; blades to 35 mm wide; spikelets 1.8-2 mm long, apex obtuse; both glumes absent from all spikelets
1 At least upper glume present on all spikelets.
    3 Spikelets solitary, not associated with rudimentary spikelets or naked pedicels.
      4 Panicles usually composed of a terminal pair of branches, sometimes with 1 (-5) additional branches below the terminal pair.
        5 Upper glumes pubescent on the back or margins.
          6 Spikelets 1.3-1.9 mm long; upper glumes pilose along the margins; ligules 0.5-0.8 mm long; panicle branch axis 0.2-0.8 mm wide
          6 Spikelets 2.4-3.2 mm long; upper glumes sparsely pubescent on the back; ligules 1-2 mm long; panicle branch axis 1.2-2.2 mm wide
        5 Upper glumes glabrous.
             7 Spikelets elliptic, the tip acute or acuminate.
               8 Plants short-rhizomatous, culms appearing cespitose; blades to 4 mm wide; spikelets 3-3.6 mm long; lower lemmas 5-veined; upper florets stramineous to golden brown; most frequently found along roadsides and in pastures
               8 Plants rhizomatous, the culms separate; blades to 8 mm wide; spikelets 3-4.5 mm long; lower lemmas 3-veined; upper florets white; most frequently found in brackish and salt marshes
             7 Spikelets ovate to broadly elliptic, the tip obtuse to broadly acute.
                 9 Culms to 60 cm long; blades flat; panicle branches to 6.4 cm long; spikelets 1.9-2.3 mm long, 1.2-2 mm wide; upper glumes 3-veined
                 9 Culms to 120 cm long; blades flat or longitudinally folded; panicle branches to 15 cm long; spikelets 2.5-4 mm long, 2-2.8 mm wide; upper glumes 5-veined
      4 Panicles with 1-70 branches; if > 1, the branches arranged racemosely, the 2 uppermost not paired.
                   10 Panicle branches 7-70, the axes extending beyond the outermost spikelets; panicle branches disarticulating at maturity
                   10 Panicle branches 1-6, terminating in a spikelet; panicle branches persistent.
                     11 Upper florets olive to dark brown
                     11 Upper florets pale to tan.
                       12 Axes of panicle branches not broadly winged, 0.6-1.3 mm wide.
                          13 Spikelets orbicular, 2.8-3.2 mm wide
                          13 Spikelets slightly longer than broad, 2.0-2.5 mm wide
                       12 Axes of panicle branches broadly winged, 1.8-3.3 mm wide.
                            14 Culms to 100 cm long; spikelets 3.2-4 mm long, 1.6-1.7 mm wide; upper lemmas with a few short hairs at their tips; caryopses 2-3 mm long
                            14 Culms to 50 cm long; spikelets 1.7-2.1 mm long 1.1-1.4 mm wide; upper lemmas glabrous; caryopses 1-1.3 mm long
    3 Spikelets paired, or at least the second nonfunctional spikelet represented by a naked pedicel.
                              15 Spikelets 1.0-1.3 mm long
                                16 Nodes glabrous; blades 1.9-8 mm wide; panicle branches 2-6; upper florets 0.8-1.1 mm long
                                16 Nodes pubescent; blades 10-24 mm wide; panicle branches 18-50; upper florets 1.1-1.3 mm long
                              15 Spikelets 1.3-4.1 mm long.
                                  17 Margins of upper glumes and lower lemmas fimbriate, or ciliate with soft hairs 5 mm or more long.
                                    18 Culms to 70 cm long; upper glumes and lower lemmas broadly winged, the wing fimbriate; spikelets 2.4-3 mm wide
                                    18 Culms to 220 cm long; margins of upper glume and lower lemmas long-ciliate, wingless; spikelets 1.1-2.5 mm wide.
                                       19 Panicle branches 2-7; spikelets 2.3-4.0 mm long, 1.7-2.5 mm wide
                                       19 Panicle branches (4-) 10-30; spikelets 1.8-2.8 mm long, 1.1-1.5 mm wide
                                  17 Margins of upper glumes and lower lemmas glabrous or pubescent, but not winged, fimbriate, or long-ciliate.
                                         20 Upper florets olive to dark brown.
                                           21 Plants aquatic AND culms decumbent; lower glumes often present
                                           21 Plants either not aquatic OR if aquatic then with erect culms; lower glumes absent.
                                             22 Panicle branches 10-28 (occasionally more).
                                               23 Plants annual; axes of panicle branches broadly winged, the wings about as wide as the central portion; [common native]
                                               23 Plants perennial; axes of panicle branches narrowly winged, the wings narrower than the central portion; [rare exotics].
                                                 24 Blades 7-18 mm wide; axes of panicle branches 0.5-1.2 mm wide; spikelets 1.1-1.8 mm wide; upper florets 1.8-2.2 mm long
                                                 24 Blades 10-30 mm wide; axes of panicle branches 1-1.7 mm wide; spikelets 1.8-2.4 mm wide; upper florets 2.5-2.7 mm long
                                             22 Panicle branches 1-10.
                                                    25 Upper glumes glabrous.
                                                      26 Blades to 15 mm wide; panicle branches 1-10 (-28); branch axes 0.7-2.3 mm wide; spikelets 2-2.2 mm long
                                                      26 Blades to 7 mm wide; panicle branches 2-8; branch axes 0.6-1.1 mm wide; spikelets 2.2-3 mm long.
                                                        27 Panicle branches 2-7, 1.6-7.1 cm long; spikelets 2.5-3 mm long, 1.5-2.2 mm wide; upper florets dark brown
                                                        27 Panicle branches 5-8, 3.5-11 cm long; spikelets 2.2-2.7 mm long, 1-1.4 mm wide; upper florets chestnut brown
                                                    25 Upper glumes pubescent.
                                                          28 Rhizomes 5-25 cm long; ligule 1.2-1.5 mm long; panicle branches to 5.2 cm long; mature lower lemma transversely rugose
                                                          28 Rhizomes indistinct or absent; ligule 1-4.1 mm long; panicle branches to 11 cm long; mature lower lemma not transversely rugose.
                                                            29 Ligules 1-2 mm long; panicle branches 4-13, 6-11 cm long; spikelets 1.1-1.8 mm wide
                                                            29 Ligules 2-4.1 mm long; panicle branches 1-7, 1.1-7.1 cm long; spikelets 1.5-2.4 mm wide.
                                                              30 Plants annual; culms to 53 cm long; blades to 12 mm wide, flat; ligules 2-4.1 mm long; branch axes 0.8-1.3 mm wide; spikelets 2.1-2.6 mm long
                                                              30 Plants perennial; culms to 110 cm long; blades to 5.4 mm wide, usually conduplicate; ligules 2-3 mm long; branch axes 0.6-1.1 mm wide; spikelets 2.5-3 mm long
                                         20 Upper florets white, stramineous, or golden brown.
                                                                 31 Panicle with 15-100 branches.
                                                                   32 Plants annual; ligules 0.1-0.3 mm long; blades to 13 cm long; panicle branches to 2.5 cm long; upper glumes and lower lemmas rugose
                                                                   32 Plants perennial; ligules 1-6.3 mm long; blades to 62 cm long; panicle branches to 13 cm long; upper glumes and lower lemmas smooth.
                                                                     33 Plants rhizomatous; nodes and sheaths glabrous; panicle branch axes 0.9-1.2 mm wide
                                                                     33 Plants cespitose; nodes and sheaths pubescent; panicle branch axes 0.3-0.6 mm wide.
                                                                       34 Culms to 400 cm long; blades 10-23 mm wide; panicle branches 5-13 cm long, spreading to reflexed; spikelets 1.8-1.9 mm wide
                                                                       34 Culms to 180 cm long; blades 4.9-6.1 mm wide; panicle branches 1.2-8.5 cm long, erect to ascending; spikelets 0.9-1.3 mm wide
                                                                 31 Panicles with 1-15 branches.
                                                                         35 Spikelets 1.3-2.5 mm long.
                                                                           36 Upper glumes and often lower lemmas shortly pubescent.
                                                                              37 Lower glumes present
                                                                              37 Lower glumes absent.
                                                                                38 Panicles both terminal and axillary, the axillary panicles partially or completely enclosed by the subtending leaf sheath
                                                                                38 Panicles all terminal
                                                                           36 Upper glumes and lower lemmas glabrous.
                                                                                  39 Panicles both terminal and axillary, the axillary panicles partially or completely enclosed by the subtending leaf sheath
                                                                                  39 Panicles all terminal.
                                                                                    40 Ligules 0.2-0.4 mm long; branch axes 0.2-0.5 mm wide; spikelets 1.3-2 mm long, 0.7-1 mm wide
                                                                                    40 Ligules 0.5-4.7 mm long; branch axes 0.3-2 mm wide; spikelets 1.6-3.1 mm long, 1-2.8 mm wide.
                                                                                      41 Ligules 2.2-4.7 mm long; branch axes 1.5-2 mm wide, broadly winged
                                                                                      41 Ligules 0.5-2.9 mm long; branch axes 0.4-2 mm wide, narrowly winged or wingless.
                                                                                        42 Spikelets 2-2.8 mm wide, orbicular to suborbicular.
                                                                                           43 Lower sheaths villous or hirsute; spikelets 2.6-3.5 mm long
                                                                                           43 Lower sheaths glabrous or sparsely papillose-pubescent; spikelets 2.2-2.8 mm long
                                                                                        42 Spikelets 1-1.9 mm wide, elliptic, ovate, or obovate.
                                                                                             44 Spikelets 1.6-2.2 mm long, 1.1-1.3 mm wide
                                                                                             44 Spikelets 2.1-3.7 mm long, 1-1.9 mm wide.
                                                                                               45 Blades 0.2-2 (rarely -8) mm wide; panicle branch axes 0.5-1.2 mm wide; spikelets 2.3-3.7 mm long, 1.3-1.9 mm wide
                                                                                               45 Blades 3-7 mm wide; panicle branch axes 0.3-0.8 mm wide; spikelets 2.2-2.5 mm long, 1-1.3 mm wide
                                                                         35 Spikelets 2.5-4.1 mm long.
                                                                                                 46 Spikelet pairs hardly imbricate, irregularly approximate, with evident gaps between groups of spikelets on the branches; lower glumes usually present; upper glumes (6-) 7-veined
                                                                                                 46 Spikelet pairs imbricate; lower glumes absent or present; upper glumes 1-5-veined.
                                                                                                   47 Upper glumes and lower lemmas pubescent (sparsely so, if at all, in P. pubiflorum).
                                                                                                     48 Panicle branches 1-4; branch axes 0.2-1 mm wide; spikelets 1.3-1.6 mm wide; lower glumes present
                                                                                                     48 Panicle branches 4-9; branch axes 1.1-2.3 mm wide; spikelets 1.5-2 mm wide; lower glumes absent.
                                                                                                        49 Blades 2-5 mm wide; branches ascending to erect; branch axes 1.2-1.5 mm wide; spikelets 2.8-3 mm long, 1.5-1.6 mm wide
                                                                                                        49 Blades 4-18 mm wide; branches ascending to spreading; branch axes 1.1-2.3 mm wide; spikelets 2.8-3.6 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide.
                                                                                                          50 Blades becoming narrow basally; spikelets glabrous
                                                                                                          50 Blades rounded basally; spikelets pubescent
                                                                                                   47 Upper glumes and lower lemmas glabrous (sometimes sparsely pubescent in P. pubiflorum).
                                                                                                            51 Plants decumbent or cespitose, non-rhizomatous.
                                                                                                              52 Plants aquatic; blades to 10 mm wide; panicle branches ascending to erect, to 12 cm long; spikelets 2.5-3 mm long, 1.3-1.6 mm wide; lower glumes often present; upper glumes and lower lemmas with 5 veins
                                                                                                              52 Plants terrestrial; blades to 18 mm wide; panicle branches ascending to spreading, to 7.9 cm long; spikelets 2.8-3.6 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide; lower glumes absent; upper glumes and lower lemmas with 3 veins.
                                                                                                                53 Blades narrowing basally; spikelets glabrous
                                                                                                                53 Blades rounded basally; spikelets pubescent
                                                                                                            51 Plants rhizomatous (shortly so in Paspalum praecox).
                                                                                                                  54 Blades 0.2-2 (-8) mm wide, involute; panicle branches 1-3; upper glumes 1-veined
                                                                                                                  54 Blades 2.2-18 mm wide, flat to folded; panicle branches 1-10; upper glumes 3-5-veined.
                                                                                                                     55 Ligules to 3.3 mm long; blades to 18 mm wide; spikelets 2.9-4.1 mm long; upper glumes 5-veined; upper florets golden brown
                                                                                                                     55 Ligules to 2.2 mm long; blades to 8.3 mm wide; spikelets 2.1-3.1 mm long; upper glumes 3-veined; upper florets white, straminous, light yellow or golden brown.
                                                                                                                       56 Blades 3-4 mm wide, flat; panicle branches 1-3, erect, 7-15 cm long; spikelets 2.7-3 mm long, 1.4-2 mm wide
                                                                                                                       56 Blades 2.2-8.3 mm wide, folded to flat; panicle branches 2-10, ascending to spreading, 0.8-10.3 cm long; spikelets 2.1-3.1 mm long, 2-2.8 mm wide.
                                                                                                                         57 Lower sheaths villous or hirsute; spikelets 2.6-3.5 mm long
                                                                                                                         57 Lower sheaths glabrous or sparsely papillose-pubescent; spikelets 2.2-2.8 mm long

Key to Poaceae, Key F: grasses of tribe Paniceae (also including grasses keyed as well in Keys B, C, D, and H)

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1 Inflorescences spikelike branches, the spikelets partially embedded in the rachises
1 Inflorescences panicles or spikes (if spikes, the spikelets not embedded.
  2 Spikelets (at least the terminal) subtended by 1-many stiff, terete bristles.
    3 Bristles persistent on the inflorescence, each spikelet disarticulating above the bristles
    3 Bristles falling with the spikelets at maturity (the disarticulation at the base of the fascicles)
  2 Spikelets not subtended by stiff bristles.
      4 Inflorescences of spikelike branches 1-3.7 cm long, the branch extending 2.5-4 mm beyond the attachment of the distal spikelets
      4 Inflorescences not as above.
        5 Upper florets laterally compressed
        5 Upper florets dorsally compressed.
          6 Fertile (upper) florets shiny and black to brown-colored when mature; the glumes abruptly apiculate and (internally) oily, the lower glume bases saccate; plants erect, arching, climbing, or decumbent; [s. FL only in our flora area]
          6 Plants not as above (if robust, lacking shiny black florets and not arching or climbing); [collectively widespread, including s. FL].
             7 Lower glumes or lower lemmas awned.
               8 Leaves > 10× as long as wide; ligules absent or of hairs
               8 Leaves < 8× as long as wide; ligules present, membranous or of hairs.
                 9 Lower glumes unawned or very shortly so; upper glumes ciliate-margined; plants erect or basally decumbent
                 9 Lower glumes awned; upper glumes not ciliate-margined; culms trailing; plants strongly trailing, rooting at the nodes
             7 Lower glumes and lower lemmas unawned.
                   10 Lemma margins flat, hyaline; lower glumes absent or < ¼ the length of the upper glume.
                     11 Subterranean (cleistogamous) inflorescences present; aerial inflorescences with elongate rachises; spikelets of the aerial inflorescences often sterile; spikelets glabrous; leaves either with a white cartilaginous margin or prominently ciliate; [of the Coastal Plain]
                     11 Subterranean inflorescences absent; aerial inflorescences either with digitate or subdigitate branches and glabrous spikelets, or with elongate rachises and conspicuously pubescent spikelets; spikelets of the aerial inflorescences fertile; spikelets glabrous, ciliate, or pubescent; leaves various (often not as above); [collectively widespread]
                       12 Inflorescence a narrow panicle with the branches strongly ascending to appressed; spikelets ellipsoid to obovoid; [of Coastal Plain pinelands]
                       12 Inflorescence either a panicle with digitate or subdigitate clusters of spikelike branches or a broad panicle with widely divergent branches; [widespread]
                   10 Lemma margins not hyaline, frequently involute; lower glumes various (absent, < ¼ the length, to longer than the upper glume).
                          13 Spikelets subtended by a cuplike callus
                          13 Spikelets not subtended by a cuplike callus.
                            14 Leaves primarily lacking ligules (at least the upper, and often all, leaves without ligules, if vestigial ligules present, these of hairs)
                            14 Leaves with ligules, these either membranous or of hairs.
                              15 Lower (sterile) palea indurate and expanding the spikelet at maturity, as long as the lower (sterile) lemma; lower and upper florets standing apart from one another at maturity; outer surface of the upper (fertile) palea with compound papillae
                              15 Lower (sterile) palea membranous, not expanding the spikelet at maturity, usually shorter than lower (sterile) lemma, or absent; lower and upper florets closely appressed at maturity; outer surface of the upper (fertile) palea lacking compound papillae.
                                16 Inflorescence of 1-sided, spikelike primary branches.
                                  17 Spikelets with lower lemmas (and lower glumes, if present) adjacent to the branch axes.
                                    18 Lower glumes absent
                                    18 Lower glumes present on at least most spikelets
                                  17 Spikelets with upper lemmas (and upper glumes, if present) adjacent or appressed to the branch axes.
                                       19 Upper or both glumes present on all spikelets.
                                         20 Lower glumes usually absent; upper lemmas smooth to slightly rugose
                                         20 Lower glumes present; upper lemmas rugose and verrucose
                                16 Inflorescence either paniculate with well-developed secondary branchlets or if the primary branches spikelike, then the spikelets not borne in a 1-sided arrangement on the spicate branches.
                                           21 Inflorescences dense, the spikelets obscuring most of the internal branches
                                           21 Inflorescences open panicles, or if narrowed, all or nearly all the panicle branches readily visible.
                                             22 First glume 5-7.5 mm long, nearly as long as sterile lemma; fertile lemma 1/3 length of sterile lemma; rachilla prolonged between the florets
                                             22 First glume shorter, or if this long, then at most 3/4 length of sterile lemma; fertile lemma > ½ the length of the sterile lemma; rachilla not prolonged between the florets.
                                               23 Plant developing a terminal (“spring”) inflorescence usually before mid-summer, followed by lateral (“autumnal”) inflorescences from lower, mid, and/or upper nodes, these often included or hidden among the fascicles of smaller “autumnal” leaves; often developing a rosette of overwintering basal leaves
                                               23 Plant developing a terminal inflorescence usually after mid-summer, the lateral inflorescences, when present, from the upper nodes, usually appearing at the same time as the terminal panicle, and not hidden by dense fascicles of smaller leaves; plants lacking a rosette of overwintering basal leaves.
                                                 24 Spikelets tuberculate (or tuberculate-hispid)
                                                 24 Spikelets smooth, not tuberculate.
                                                    25 Panicle < 2 cm wide at maturity.
                                                      26 Spikelets > 4.5 mm long; first glume > 2.4 mm long; ligule 4-6 mm long; [of coastal dunes]
                                                      26 Spikelets < 4 mm long; first glume < 2.1 mm long; ligule < 2 mm long; [not of coastal dunes].
                                                        27 Blades involute, 1.5-4 mm wide; culms wiry
                                                        27 Blades flat, the larger 6-20 mm wide; culms stout.
                                                          28 Panicles constricted, 0.3-1.6 cm wide; spikelets subsessile to short-pediceled; summit of fertile palea not enclosed by fertile lemma
                                                          28 Panicles > 1 cm wide; spikelets short to long-pedicelled; summit of fertile palea enclosed by fertile lemma
                                                    25 Panicle > 2 cm wide at maturity.
                                                            29 Fertile lemmas rugose with cross-venation between the main parallel veins
                                                            29 Fertile lemmas not rugose.
                                                              30 Lower primary panicle branches in whorls of 4-7 at the nodes, stiffly spreading, naked on the proximal ½, the axils strongly pilose; lower culm internodes appressed papillose-pubescent; first glume acuminate, ½ as long as spikelet; fertile lemma chestnut brown at maturity
                                                              30 Plants without the above combination of characters.
                                                                 31 Plants from a cluster of fibrous roots, without rhizomes or hard knotty crowns, annual
                                                                 31 Plants with rhizomes or hard knotty crowns, perennial.
                                                                   32 Plants with hard crowns, lacking rhizomes; fertile lemma 1.2-1.6 mm long
                                                                   32 Plants with rhizomes; fertile lemma 1.6-4 mm long.
                                                                     33 Rhizomes about 1 cm thick with pubescent scale-like leaves; lower portion of culm hard, nearly woody
                                                                     33 Rhizomes less than 1 cm thick with glabrous scale-like leaves; culms not woody.
                                                                       34 First glume truncate apically
                                                                       34 First glume acute to obtuse.
                                                                         35 Culms slightly compressed below; ligules 0.5 mm long or less; spikelet pedicels appressed, the spikelets subsecund, usually some obliquely bent above the first glume; fertile lemma 1.8-2.2 mm long
                                                                         35 Culms terete; ligules 1-6 mm long; at least some spikelet pedicels spreading, spikelets not at all secund, essentially straight; fertile lemma 2-4 mm long

Key to Poaceae, Key H: finger grasses

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1 Spikelets 2-flowered, often dorsally compressed, falling entire at maturity (the abscission below the glumes), the upper floret usually bisexual, the lower one male or sterile; [tribe Paniceae]
  2 Lemma margins hyaline, flat; lower glumes various (absent, < ¼ the length, or longer than the upper glume)
  2 Lemma margins not hyaline, frequently involute; lower glumes absent or < ¼ the length of the upper glume.
    3 Spikelets with lower lemmas (and lower glumes, if present) adjacent to the branch axes.
      4 Lower glumes absent
      4 Lower glumes present on at least most spikelets
    3 Spikelets with upper lemmas (and upper glumes, if present) adjacent or appressed to the branch axes.
        5 Both glumes absent from all or most spikelets
        5 Upper or both glumes present on all spikelets.
          6 Lower glumes usually absent; upper lemmas smooth to slightly rugose
          6 Lower glumes present; upper lemmas rugose and verrucose
1 Spikelets 1-, 2-, or many-flowered, usually terete or somewhat laterally compressed, either abscising at maturing above the glumes or if 2-flowered then both florets bisexual, or the upper sterile; [tribes Cynodonteae and Zoysieae]
             7 Spikes normally solitary (rarely 2), divergent at the summit of the culm; second glume with a recurved spine arising from the back; fresh plants aromatic with a citrus odor; [tribe Cynodonteae; subtribe “incertae sedis”]
             7 Spikes normally 2 or more, alternate, digitate, subdigitate, or verticillate along the main inflorescence axis; second glume lacking a recurved spine; fresh plants not aromatic with a citrus odor.
               8 Spikes arranged along the central inflorescence axis alternately, solitary at each node or inflorescences consisting of a solitary spikelike raceme (Zoysia).
                 9 Spikelets with 1 bisexual floret, sometimes also accompanied by modified male, sterile, or rudimentary florets above the fertile floret.
                   10 Spikelets with modified male, sterile, or rudimentary florets above the fertile floret; [plants of uplands]; [tribe Cynodonteae; subtribe Boutelouinae]
                   10 Spikelets lacking any modified florets; [tribe Zoysieae; subtribes Sporobolinae and Zoysiinae]
                     11 Spikelets with 1 fertile floret accompanied by a sterile, reduced floret; inflorescence of 1-many spike-like panicles (the branches appressed to strongly divergent); [plants of wetlands, primarily saline and coastal]; [tribe Zoysieae; subtribe Sporobolinae]
                     11 Spikelets with 1 solitary fertile floret; inflorescence of solitary spike-like racemes; [waifs or uncommon non-native turf grasses of disturbed areas]; [tribe Zoysieae; subtribe Zoysiinae]
                 9 Spikelets with 2 or more bisexual florets (sometimes also with additional reduced florets); [tribe Cynodonteae; subtribe Eleusininae].
                       12 Ligules 4-8 (-15) mm long, acute to attenuate, entire (lacerate only by tearing)
                       12 Ligules 0.3-5.4 mm long, truncate to obtuse, erose or entire.
                          13 Lemmas 3-veined; ligule (0.2-) 0.5-5.5 (-7.0) mm long; apex erose or entire
                          13 Lemmas 5-veined; ligule 0.8-2.2 mm long, apex erose
               8 Spikes arranged along the central inflorescence axis in a digitate, subdigitate, or verticillate manner, all or most nodes with 2 or more spikes; [tribe Cynodonteae].
                            14 Spikelets with 1 fertile floret (there may also be 1 or more sterile florets); [tribe Cynodonteae; subtribe Eleusininae].
                              15 Spikelets lacking sterile florets
                              15 Spikelets with 1 or more sterile florets.
                                16 Lowest lemmas awned (rarely unawned); upper glumes acute to acuminate, mucronate or short-awned
                                16 Lowest lemmas unawned (or with an awn to 1.2 mm long); upper glumes truncate or bilobed, sometimes short-awned from between the lobes
                            14 Spikelets with 2 or more fertile florets.
                                  17 Spikes to 7 cm long, terminating in a point (the spikes acuminate); [tribe Cynodonteae; subtribe “incertae sedis”]
                                  17 Spikes to 22 cm long, terminating in a functional or rudimentary spikelet (the spikes acute to obtuse); [tribe Cynodonteae; subtribe Eleusininae].
                                    18 Lemmas glabrous
                                    18 Lemmas pubescent, at least towards the base.
                                       19 Lemma apices obtuse to truncate or emarginate
                                       19 Lemma apices acute