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3* Culms witli whorled branches; spikelets < 4 mm long . subgen. Bambusina 
4 Lemma glabrous for varying distances below the apex . 5 
4* Lemma hairy all over, though hairs may be of different lengths . 6 
5 The lemma glabrous or almost so, the surface shining . subgen. Lantema 
5* Lemma glabrous only in the top half, the glabrous portion rough, tuberculate or 
'crystalline' (with individual small bumps or ridges of translucent silica) . 
. subgen. Tuberculatae 
6 Lemma with 2 membranous lobes usually > 1 mm long . subgen. Lobatae 
6* Lemma with 0-1 lobes or, if 2 present, then < 1 mm long . 7 
7 Bristle of the awn falcate; lemma narrow, often evenly covered with comparatively 
sparse, short, white hairs .... subgen. Falcatae 
7* Bristle usually straight or only slightly curved, if falcate then the lemma not evenly 
covered with comparatively sparse, short, white hairs . 8 
8 Column of the awn plumose or long-pubescent; lemma never covered with brown 
hairs . subgen. Austrostipa 
8* Column of the awn scabrous or glabrous, if plumose then the mature lemma covered 
with brown hairs . 9 
9 Palea with an adaxial groove, the lemma margins fitting into the groove and not 
overlapping . subgen. Aulax 
9* Palea entire; lemma margins overlapping . 10 
10 Glumes broad and inflated around the floret; lemma with a coma and a short callus 
at an angle to the long axis of the floret; panicle usually open and spreading . 
. subgen. Ceres 
10* Glumes narrow, close around the floret; lemma usually with a coma and a long, fine, 
straight callus aligned with the long axis of the floret; panicle often contracted with 
short branches . 11 
11 Plants perennial but with very short and narrow leaves in a small tussock, inflorescence 
many times longer than these small basal leaves (often missing from specimens) and 
often mistaken as being from annual plants; awns usually > 7 cm long . 
. subgen. Longiaristatae 
11* Plants perennial and caespitose, the inflorescence never more than 2-3 times as long 
as the basal leaves (unless grazed); awns usually < 7 cm long . 12 
12 Lemma hairs often becoming dark reddish brown at maturity; sometimes a patch of 
shorter hairs present below the apex; awn comparatively long; more commonly 
plants of inland red sandy or rocky soils . subgen. Eremophilae 
12* Lemma hairs unchanging or becoming yellow at maturity, but never dark reddish 
brown; patches of shorter hairs never present; awn comparatively short; more 
commonly plants near the coast or on light-coloured sandy soils . 
subgen. Lancea 
