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Key to Poaceae, Key L: grasses with 1 floret and awned lemmas
Poaceae
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2 Both glumes present, 1-many-veined.
4 Rhizomatous perennials; primary leaves cauline (the basal leaves < 2 cm long or merely represented by sheaths), 8-16 mm wide
4 Cespitose perennials; primary leaves basally disposed, 0.2-10 mm wide.
13 Spikelets 1.1-8 mm long.
15 Inflorescences with disarticulating branches;
Lower glumes 0.9-4 mm long; spikelets disarticulating below the glumes, the spikelet falling as a whole; spikelets appressed to divergent from the raceme axes; sheaths not strongly overlapping; [tribe Cynodonteae; subtribe Eleusininae]
15 Inflorescences without disarticulating branches; lower glumes 1.5-3 mm long (Muhlenbergia paniculata) or (2-) 3.5-7 mm long (Gymnopogon); spikelets disarticulating above the glumes (which often remain on the inflorescence); spikelets strongly appressed to the raceme axes; sheaths strongly overlapping or not , if so then at least on the upper culm, therefore hiding the culm; [tribe Cynodonteae; subtribe “incertae sedis”]
14 Spikelets pedicellate and arrayed in a more complex, open (and sometimes loosely contracted) panicle.
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Key to Poaceae, Key M: grasses with 2+ florets, these exceeded and usually concealed by the glumes
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1 Spikelets disarticulating below the glumes, the spikelets falling as a whole or in clusters; [tribe Poeae]
12 Awns of the lemmas 2-8 mm long, therefore conspicuous and not merely a minute midvein extension, bent or geniculate and often basally-twisted and exceeding lemma apices; lemma apices bifid or bicuspidate.
13 Panicle branches densely pubescent, usually glistening yellowish-brown or yellowish to tan; panicles either 1-5 cm (Trisetum aureum) OR 5-20 cm long (Trisetum flavescens); leaves evenly distributed; ligules 0.5-1(2) mm, obtuse, lacerate, sometimes ciliolate; plants sometimes with rhizomes to 7 cm long (T. flavescens); [occurring very sporadically in disturbed sites throughout our area or as a ballast waif in NJ]
13 Panicles branches glabrous or sparsely pubescent, usually silvery-shiny; panicles (5)20-30(50) cm long; leaves mostly basal or evenly distributed; ligules 0.5-4 mm, truncate or rounded; plants not rhizomatous; [a native of cool, moist, undisturbed northern sites; rare and disjunct in high elevation areas s. to VA]
14 Awns straight or geniculate (sometimes only slightly so), if geniculate then the awn not bearing a distinct ring at the joint and not bearing a clavate distal segment; [collectively widespread].