Poaceae

• See list of 2 genera in 1a
  Poaceae 1

  1a. Spikelets appearing spiny, either enclosed in a bur-like fascicle of reduced branches or with an enlarged, uncinate-prickly glume [Figs. 204,279]
• See list of 101 genera in 1b
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  1b. Spikelets not spiny, although pubescence or bristles may be present [Figs. 181,227,269]
  • See list of 56 genera in 2a
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    2a. Spikelets with 2 or more evident florets [Figs. 232,238,282]
    • See list of 38 genera in 3a
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      3a. Inflorescence an open to dense panicle [Figs. 180,183,198]
      • See list of 1 genera in 4a
        Poaceae 2

        4a. Spikelets dimorphic with the 2 types paired—the lower spikelet of the pair sterile, flabellate, consisting of 2 glumes and several narrow, acuminate lemmas, concealing the upper, fertile spikelets with 2–4 florets
      • See list of 37 genera in 4b
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        4b. Spikelets of a single plant monomorphic
        • See list of 15 genera in 5a
          Poaceae 3

          5a. At least 1 of the glumes (often both) nearly equaling to surpassing the body of the most apical lemma of each spikelet, partially or completely concealing the florets [Figs. 208,282]
        • See list of 26 genera in 5b
          Poaceae 4

          5b. Both glumes shorter than the body of the most apical lemma of the spikelet, the florets largely visible [Figs. 227,232,283]
    • See list of 18 genera in 3b
      Poaceae 5

      3b. Inflorescence a solitary, terminal spike or raceme, or a panicle with 2 or more secund, spike-like branches [Figs. 205,224,239]
  • See list of 48 genera in 2b
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    2b. Spikelets with only 1 evident floret (members of the subfamily Panicoideae key under this lead) [Figs. 181,269,273]
    • See list of 23 genera in 6a
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      6a. Glumes or lemmas or both folded (i.e., V-shaped in cross-section), sometimes with a low to pronounced keel
      • See list of 4 genera in 7a
        Poaceae 6

        7a. Inflorescence a panicle with secund, spike-like branches [Fig. 193]
      • See list of 19 genera in 7b
        Poaceae 7

        7b. Inflorescence an open to dense panicle, the branches not both secund and spike-like (often neither) or a secund spike [Figs. 182,277]
    • See list of 32 genera in 6b
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      6b. Glumes and lemmas flat, arched, or rounded over the abaxial surface, lacking a keel
      • See list of 4 genera in 8a
        Poaceae 8

        8a. Inflorescence composed of a single, terminal spike, raceme, or spike-like panicle, the branches, when present, scarcely discernible [Figs. 193,236,268]
      • See list of 29 genera in 8b
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        8b. Inflorescence a congested to open panicle with visible branching, or composed of 2 or more spikes, racemes, or rames
        • See list of 10 genera in 9a
          Poaceae 9

          9a. Glumes often as long as or longer than the lemmas and concealing the florets; spikelets usually arranged in obvious pairs or triplets with 1 spikelet sessile or shortly pedicellate and the remaining pedicellate (sometimes the pedicellate spikelet reduced and represented by only a pedicel; not organized in pairs or triplets in Milium) [Fig. 240]
        • See list of 19 genera in 9b
          Poaceae 10

          9b. One (i.e., the lower) or both glumes shorter than the lemmas or the glumes absent; spikelets not organized in pairs or triplets (sometimes in groups of 2 or 3 in Digitaria and Paspalum) [Fig. 269]

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 Show photos of:   Each photo represents one genus in this family.