Vegetative key to the families
Vegetative Key Vegetative key to the families
GRASSES. Herbs. Leaf bases modified to form an open sheath which encloses the stem; leaf blade with parallel venation and abruptly distinct from the sheath; LIGULE usually present at the top of the sheath (Fig 24) Poaceae
Spikelets bisexual (rarely unisexual, and if so, the spikelets similar and in the same inflorescence)
Spikelets in pairs (or rarely triplets), usually one sessile and awned, the other pedicellate and awnless (Fig. 50 l). The sessile spikelet can be sunken into the thick rhachis (Fig. 47 h) or; the two spikelets are similar, awnless and surrounded by silky hairs or; the pedicellate spikelet is reduced to the pedicel (Fig. 50 n). Spathe present just below the inflorescence in some genera.
Inflorescence rhachis not markedly thickened, spikelets not embedded in the rhachis
Inflorescence not spatheate
Paired spikelets similar in shape and sex
Paired spikelets dissimilar in shape and/or sex