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Key to Setaria

Poaceae

Setaria

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(c) Smith, Jake - CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG
1 None of the spikelets subtended by a stiff bristle
(c) Fleming, Gary P.
(c) Bradley, Keith
(c) Ward, Scott G - CC-BY
1 Terminal spikelet on each branch subtended by a single bristle (other spikelets also sometimes so subtended)
(c) Ward, Scott G - CC-BY
(c) Bradley, Keith
  2 Most spikelets other than the terminal lacking a subtending bristle; leaves flat or plicate.
© James Lange
(c) Ward, Scott G - CC-BY
    3 Blades flat, 2-5 mm wide; only terminal spikelet of each branch with a subtending bristle
    3 Blades plicate, 10-80 mm wide; a single bristle sometimes present below non-terminal as well as terminal spikelets.
      4 Annual; leaves 10-25 mm wide
      4 Perennial; leaves 20-80 mm wide
(c) Fleming, Gary P.
  2 All spikelets subtended by 1 or more bristles; leaves flat.
(c) Bradley, Keith
        5 Bristles 4-12 below each spikelet.
          6 Perennial, noticeably rhizomatous.
               8 Panicle 3-8 (10) cm long; plant from knotty rhizomes; [native, common (sometimes weedy)]
               8 Panicle 5-25 cm long; plant from thick rhizomes; [exotic, rare]
(c) Bradley, Keith
        5 Bristles 1-3 (rarely 6) below each spikelet.
                       12 Upper lemmas smooth and shiny (occasionally with obscure rugosity)
                       12 Upper lemmas distinctly transversely rugose, dull.
© James Lange
                            14 Upper lemmas coarsely rugose; leaves 4-7 mm wide; [native]
                            14 Upper lemmas finely rugose; leaves 4-25 mm wide; [exotic, generally of ruderal sites].
(c) Marcum, Paul
                                16 Leaves softly pilose on the upper surface; panicles arching and drooping from the base; spikelets 2.5-3.0 mm long
                                16 Leaves scabrous on the upper surface; panicles nodding only at the tip; spikelets 1.8-2.2 mm long.