1	"Marginal nerve of leaf prominent, yellow-brown; bristles often deflexed; scape much shorter than leaves"	"Conostylis aculeata subsp. bromelioides"
1	"Marginal nerve of leaf usually inconspicuous, green; bristles spreading outwards and upwards; scape shorter than to longer than leaves"	2
2	"Bristles usually confined to upper margins of mature leaves; scape ± equal to leaves; inflorescence capitate"	"Conostylis aculeata subsp. cygnorum"
2	"Bristles along whole margin of leaves; scape shorter than to longer than leaves; inflorescence capitate or loosely cymose-racemose"	3
3	"Leaves 3 - 7.5 mm wide, usually much longer than scape; inflorescence a loose cyme or raceme"	"Conostylis aculeata subsp. aculeata"
3	"Leaves 1 - 4 mm wide, shorter than, equal to or longer than scape; inflorescence capitate or cymose or racemose"	4
4	"Leaves 2.5 - 4 mm wide, in markedly flattened, broadly fan-shaped distichous clusters on proliferous stems"	5
4	"Leaves 1 - 3 mm wide, in loose, narrowly fan-shaped clusters on short or proliferous stems"	6
5	"Leaves 10 - 17 cm long, stiff; flowers 10 - 13 mm long"	"Conostylis aculeata subsp. rhipidion"
5	"Leaves 6 - 30 cm long, flexible to stiff; flowers 6 - 10 mm long"	"Conostylis aculeata subsp. septentrionora"
6	"Flowers 5 - 10 mm long; scape usually longer than leaves; leaves 6 - 25 cm long"	7
6	"Flowers 9 - 13 mm long; scape usually slightly shorter than leaves; leaves 10 - 35 cm long"	8
7	"Leaves usually 1.5 - 2.5 mm wide; bristles 1 - 2.5 mm long"	"Conostylis aculeata subsp. breviflora"
7	"Leaves usually 1 mm wide; bristles 2 - 3 mm long"	"Conostylis aculeata subsp. echinissima"
8	"Leaves 1 - 2 mm wide, 10 - 25 cm long; bristles 0.5 - 2 mm long"	"Conostylis aculeata subsp. gracilis"
8	"Leaves 1.5 - 3 mm wide, 10 - 35 cm long; bristles 1 - 4 mm long"	9
9	"Leaves 24 - 35 cm long, 1.5 - 2.5 mm wide; bristles 2 - 4 mm long; stems 2 - 9 cm long"	"Conostylis aculeata subsp. spinuligera"
9	"Leaves 10 - 25 cm long, 2 - 3 mm wide; bristles 1 - 3 mm long; stems 4 - 15 cm long"	"Conostylis aculeata subsp. preissii"