to pair 5, if ligule is membranous (5b) , go next to pair 9. Continue in this way to select the alterna- 

 tive which best agrees with the specimen in hand until reference is to a Group. Turn to this group 

 and continue to a grass species. Check the specimen with the details of the description given under 

 the species name and in the drawing at right (drawings are diagrammatic and not to scale) . Where 

 the inflorescence is present, the simplified description given may also be helpful in checking correct 

 identification. In a few species geographical distribution and the information on occurrence may be 

 of value. 



IDENTIFICATION KEY 



la. Blade 3 mm. or less wide 2 



lb. Blade more than 3 mm. wide 4 



2a. Sheath distinctly flattened or compressed Group 1, page 9 



2b. Sheath not distinctly flattened 3 



3a. Ligule .5 mm. or less long Group 2, page 12 



3b. Ligule more than .5 mm. long Group 3, page 16 



4a. Ligule present 5 



4b. Ligule absent Group 4, page 20 



5a. Ligule membranous ° 



5b. Ligule a fringe of hairs ° 



6a. Ligule 1 mm. or less long ' 



6b. Ligule more than 1 mm. long 8 



7a. Blade 5 mm. or less wide Group 5, page 21 



7b. Blade more than 5 mm. wide Group 6, page 23 



8a. At least one sheath margin hairy Group 7, page 29 



8b. Neither sheath margin hairy Group 8, page 33 



9a. Sheath closed to near top Group 9, page 38 



9b. Sheath split at least part way 10 



10a. Sheath distinctly flattened H 



10b. Sheath not distinctly flattened 14 



11a. Ligule 1 mm. or less long Group 10, page 41 



lib. Ligule more than 1 mm. long 12 



12a. Leaves rolled in bud-shoot Group 11, page 45 



12b. Leaves folded in bud-shoot 13 



13a. Ligule 2 mm. or less long - Group 12, page 48 



13b. Ligule more than 2 mm. long Group 13, page 50 



14a. Ligule 3 mm. or more long 15 



14b. Ligule less than 3 mm. long 16 



15a. Blade 10 mm. or less wide Group 14, page 52 



15b. Blade more than 10 mm. wide Group 15, page 55 



16a. Auricles present Group 16, page 59 



16b. Auricles absent 1' 



17a. Blade 10 mm. or less wide 1° 



17b. Blade more than 10 mm. wide 20 



18a. Ligule 1 mm. or less long Group 17, page 62 



18b. Ligule more than 1 mm. long 19 



19a. Sheath hairy at least at top or throat Group 18, page 65 



19b. Sheath not hairy Group 19, page 66 



20a. Ligule 2 mm. or less long Group 20, page 68 



20b. Ligule more than 2 mm. long Group 21, page 71 



8 • 



