1	"Spikelets solitary on each stem"	2
1	"Spikelets more than one on each stem"	35
2	"Stigmas 2"	3
2	"Stigmas 3"	14
3	"Achene with transverse, wavy ridges"	4
3	"Achene longitudinally striate, finely reticulate, smooth or tuberculate"	8
4	"Spikelet oblique or distinctly nodding; style broad, 0.5 mm wide"	"Fimbristylis nutans"
4	"Spikelet erect; style narrow, less than 0.4 mm wide"	5
5	"Glumes < 2 mm long"	"Fimbristylis nuda"
5	"Glumes > 2 mm long"	6
6	"Upper part of top most glumes with short fine hairs on the surface or margin"	"Fimbristylis punctata"
6	"Upper part of glumes glabrous"	7
7	"Lowest glume broadly obtuse, much shorter than fertile glumes; mature achene broadly obovate to sub-orbicular, usually >1.4 mm long, often dark brown with a white annulus at the base"	"Fimbristylis acuminata"
7	"Lowest glume obtuse or acute, only slightly shorter than the fertile glume; mature achene obovate, < 1.4 mm long, usually white or straw coloured without a white annulus at the base"	"Fimbristylis acicularis"
8	"Spikelet 1 to 3 mm wide"	9
8	"Spikelet more than 3 mm wide"	12
9	"Spikelet cylindrical 6 to 15 mm long; leaves mostly reduced to sheathing scales; achene less than 0.5 mm long, finely tuberculate; upper flowers female only"	"Fimbristylis denudata"
9	"Spikelet fusiform or ovoid-elliptical; leaves developed; achene more than 0.5 mm long, not tuberculate"	10
10	"Achene nearly terete, obovoid-globose, obscurely 2-angled, dark brown; glumes 1 to 1.5 mm long"	"Fimbristylis distincta"
10	"Achene biconvex, acutely angled, grey or white; glumes 2 to 3 mm long"	11
11	"Spikelets 2-3 mm wide; glumes muticous; achene 0.8 to 1.2 mm long, grey"	"Fimbristylis polytrichoides"
11	"Spikelets less than 1.6 mm wide; glumes with mucro > 0.3 mm long; achene 0.6 to 0.7 mm long, white to pale brown"	"Fimbristylis adjuncta"
12	"Achene oblong-cylindrical, ribbed longitudinally with a conspicuous gynophore 0.5 to 1 mm long; upper parts of the stem quadrangular"	"Fimbristylis tetragona"
12	"Achene biconvex, obovoid with gynophore less than 0.5 mm long; upper part of the stem terete or flattened"	13
13	"Glumes 4 to 6 mm long; base of stem bulbous"	"Fimbristylis tristachya"
13	"Glumes 2.5 to 3 mm long; base of stem not bulbous"	"Fimbristylis schoenoides"
14	"Spikelet oblique or at right angles to stem"	15
14	"Spikelet erect"	16
15	"Glume apex glabrous with two terminal wings with red, linear flecks"	"Fimbristylis costiglumis"
15	"Glume apex rounded and finely ciliate"	"Fimbristylis densa"
16	"Fertile glumes greater than 8.5 mm long"	17
16	"Fertile glumes less than 8mm long"	18
17	"Plants with well-developed leaves, glumes 8.5 to 10.2 mm, distinctly awned; achene 2 to 2.6 mm long, including an abruptly constricted 1 mm long stipe"	"Fimbristylis odontocarpa"
17	"Plants nearly leafless, glumes 10 to 15 mm long, acute, achene greater than 2.6 mm long, stipe acuminate and not constricted"	"Abildgaardia schoenoides"
18	"Achene long cylindrical with a conspicuous gynophore; upper part of the stem quadrangular"	"Fimbristylis tetragona"
18	"Achene obovate, pyriform or winged, no conspicuous gynophore; upper part of the stem terete or flattened"	19
19	"Achene with transversely wavy ridges"	20
19	"Achene longitudinally striate, finely reticulate, smooth or tuberculate"	21
20	"Spikelets 6 to 8 mm wide; glumes glabrous"	"Fimbristylis carolinii"
20	"Spikelets 2 to 4 mm wide; glumes with minute hairs on the upper surface"	"Fimbristylis punctata"
21	"Leaves densely minutely hairy"	"Fimbristylis leucocolea"
21	"Leaves glabrous"	22
22	"Achene flattened with acute edges, these with distinct wings about 0.5 mm wide"	23
22	"Achene not flattened, may be somewhat compressed, with no wings"	24
23	"Basal glume less than half as long as fertile glumes, glumes 5-7 mm long, distichous; wings on the achene solid"	"Abildgaardia pachyptera"
23	"Basal glumes all of a similar size, glumes 4-6 mm long, spirally arranged; wings on the achene ciliate or membranous"	"Fimbristylis pterigosperma"
24	"Spikelet less than 1.5 mm wide, glumes usually less than 10 per spikelet"	"Fimbristylis pauciflora"
24	"Spikelet at least 1.6 mm wide, glumes usually more than 10 per spikelet"	25
25	"Glumes entirely glabrous"	26
25	"Glumes ciliate on the margins or with hairs on parts of the surface"	32
26	"Keel at the base of the glume at least 0.4 mm wide, broadly rounded"	27
26	"Keel of glume less than 0.3 mm wide, angular, if rounded then narrowly so"	28
27	"Achene coarsely tuberculate, pale straw to grey brown; style with  broad,  membranous margins for the entire length; glumes white to straw coloured; clay soils"	"Abildgaardia ovata"
27	"Achene often smooth or slightly tuberculate, greyish to dark grey/black; style fimbriate, with no membranous margin; glumes light brown to brown; in rocky situations often with a sandstone influence"	"Abildgaardia macrantha"
28	"Glumes at least 5 mm long; distichous, at least in young spikelets, the rachillas sometimes becoming twisted with age; spikelets strongly laterally compressed, similar to those in Cyperus"	29
28	"Glumes up to 5 mm long, spirally arranged, not strongly laterally compressed"	30
29	"Achene densely tuberculate, 2 to 2.8 mm long"	"Abildgaardia oxystachya"
29	"Achene reticulated often with a few small tubercules, 1.4 to 1.8 mm long"	"Fimbristylis vaginata"
30	"Spikelet less than 2.4 mm wide; glumes less than 2.5 mm long"	"Fimbristylis modesta"
30	"Spikelet at least 2.5 mm wide; glumes greater than 2.5 mm long"	31
31	"Glumes oblong acute, lowest (empty) glume more than half as long as the spikelet"	"Fimbristylis dictyocolea"
31	"Glumes broadly obtuse to rounded, lowest glume half or less than half of the length of the spikelet"	"Fimbristylis simplex"
32	"Glumes up to 3 mm long"	33
32	"Glumes at least 4 mm long"	34
33	"Whole surface of the glume with distinct red or brown linear flecks; apex of the spikelets acute"	"Fimbristylis trigastrocarya"
33	"Surface of the glume with no distinct flecks, maybe some occasional obscure ones; apex of spikelets obtuse"	"Fimbristylis sphaerocephala"
34	"Spikelets 5 to 10 mm wide; glumes 5 to 10 mm long"	"Fimbristylis recta"
34	"Spikelets 2.5 to 4 mm wide; glumes less than 5 mm long"	"Fimbristylis cardiocarpa"
35	"Spikelets more than 1 on each stem but not clustered"	36
35	"Spikelets capitate or somewhat clustered"	84
36	"Stigmas 2"	37
36	"Stigmas 3"	57
37	"Achene less than 1 mm long"	38
37	"Achene more than 1 mm long"	48
38	"Spikelets, 1 to 4 (-6), cylindrical, only female flowers in upper part; leaves mostly reduced to sheathing scales"	"Fimbristylis denudata"
38	"Spikelets numerous, ovoid-oblong; leaves with lamina; all flowers bisexual"	39
39	"Achene less than 0.5 mm long"	"Fimbristylis caespitosa"
39	"Achene greater than 0.5 mm long"	40
40	"Achene sub-cylindrical, oblong-linear in outline"	"Fimbristylis dipsacea"
40	"Achene not as above"	41
41	"Style base with numerous long hairs pendent over apex of the achene"	"Fimbristylis velata"
41	"Style base without hairs pendent over achene"	42
42	"Achene with 5-10 conspicuous longitudinal ribs on each face with numerous cross-bars, glistening white to stramineous, rarely brown"	43
42	"Achene reticulate, smooth or tuberculate, not ribbed as above"	45
43	"Upper part of the stem and the base of the involucral bracts with pilose hairs; style shorter than the achene"	"Fimbristylis depauperata"
43	"Upper part of the stem and the base of the involucral bracts either glabrous or with only short hairs on the margins; style longer than the achene"	44
44	"Stamens 2 or 3; glumes orbicular"	"Fimbristylis dichotoma (inland form)"
44	"Stamens 1; glumes elliptic"	"Fimbristylis bisumbellata"
45	"Leaves and involucral bracts densely hairy; glumes acute, mucronulate"	"Fimbristylis aestivalis"
45	"Leaves and involucral bracts glabrous; glumes obtuse, muticous"	46
46	"Glumes less than 1.4 mm long"	"Fimbristylis stenostachya"
46	"Glumes greater than 1.4 mm long"	47
47	"Surface of the glumes pubescent"	"Fimbristylis pubisquama"
47	"Surface of the glumes glabrous"	"Fimbristylis cymosa"
48	"Glumes pubescent on at least part of the surface"	49
48	"Glumes entirely glabrous"	51
49	"Glumes up to 2.5 mm long, pubescent over most of the surface"	"Fimbristylis pubisquama"
49	"Glumes 2.8 to 4.5 mm long, pubescent mainly on the upper parts"	50
50	"Glumes nearly as broad as long, style about 0.4 mm wide, involucral bracts usually longer than the inflorescence, annual with long leaves"	"Fimbristylis sieberiana"
50	"Glumes considerably longer than broad, style about 0.25 mm wide, involucral bracts shorter than the inflorescence, perennial with short leaves"	"Fimbristylis ferruginea"
51	"Achene with 5-10 conspicuous longitudinal ribs on each face with numerous cross-bars, glistening white to stramineous, occasionally brown"	52
51	"Achene smooth, finely reticulate or verrucose"	53
52	"Upper part of the stem and the base of the involucral bracts with pilose hairs; style shorter than the achene"	"Fimbristylis depauperata"
52	"Upper part of the stem and the base of the involucral bracts either glabrous or with only short hairs on the margins; style longer than the achene"	"Fimbristylis dichotoma"
53	"Inflorescence mainly consisting of a single spikelet, occasionally some with 2 or 3"	54
53	"Inflorescence a panicle consisting of at least 4 spikelets"	56
54	"Glumes 4 to 6 mm long; spikelets 4 to 5 mm wide; base of stem bulbous"	"Fimbristylis tristachya"
54	"Glumes 2 to 3 mm long; spikelets 2 to 4 (4.5) mm wide; base of stem not bulbous"	55
55	"Spikelets 2 to 3 mm wide; glumes longer than they are broad"	"Fimbristylis polytrichoides"
55	"Spikelets 3 to 4.5 mm wide; glumes as broad as they are long"	"Fimbristylis schoenoides"
56	"Stem and leaves spongy, compressible"	"Fimbristylis dolera"
56	"Plant with leaves reduced to short sheaths, stems not spongy"	"Fimbristylis blakei"
57	"Glumes with long scabrid awns 1-1.5 mm long"	"Fimbristylis signata"
57	"Glumes without long scabrid awns"	58
58	"Style base with hairs pendant over a dark achene"	"Fimbristylis furva"
58	"Style base not with the above combination"	59
59	"Glumes folded obtusely around the achene, rounded, causing the glumes to be somewhat flattened at maturity, and spikelets more or less rounded in cross section"	60
59	"Glumes folded acutely, not flattened, causing the spikelets to be angular or compressed in cross section"	66
60	"Stems sharply 4 or 5 angled; glumes up to 1.5 mm long"	"Fimbristylis littoralis"
60	"Stems trigonous, rounded or terete; glumes more than 1.5 mm long"	61
61	"Glumes 3.5 mm to 5 mm long"	62
61	"Glumes less than 3 mm long"	64
62	"Spikelets broadly ovoid, less than 2.5 times longer than broad"	"Fimbristylis triloba"
62	"Spikelets oblong, more than 3.5 times longer than broad"	63
63	"Glumes with distinct reddish-brown linear flecks on the surface"	"Fimbristylis lanceolata"
63	"Glumes with no reddish-brown flecks"	"Fimbristylis insignis"
64	"Plant with long stolons"	"Fimbristylis vagans"
64	"Plant without long stolons"	65
65	"Plants with broad leaves up to 4.5 mm wide; rays on the inflorescence scabrous"	"Fimbristylis clavata"
65	"Plant with narrow leaves up to 3 mm) wide; rays glabrous"	"Fimbristylis rara"
66	"Glume surface pubescent and/or margins with long hairs"	67
66	"Glume surface and margins glabrous"	70
67	"Glumes with no membranous margin"	"Fimbristylis corynocarya"
67	"Glumes with a distinct, broad, whitish membranous margin"	68
68	"Glumes distichously arranged, similar to Cyperus"	"Fimbristylis fimbristyloides"
68	"Glumes distinctly spirally arranged"	69
69	"Base of the involucral bracts pubescent; top of stems scabrous"	"Fimbristylis phaeoleuca"
69	"Base of the involucral bracts glabrous; stems glabrous"	"Fimbristylis cymosa"
70	"Plant with long stolons"	"Fimbristylis vagans"
70	"Plant without long stolons"	71
71	"Leaves reduced to loose sheaths; inflorescence consisting of 1sessile spikelet plus 1- 3 spikelets on branches to 2 cm long"	"Fimbristylis vaginata"
71	"Plants with long leaves, inflorescence not as above"	72
72	"Stems sharply 4 or 5-angled"	73
72	"Stems triquetrous, terete or compressed, may be ribbed"	76
73	"Glumes 3 to 5 mm long"	"Fimbristylis eragrostis"
73	"Glumes 1 to 1.5 mm long"	74
74	"Glume mucro with a few scabrous hairs"	"Fimbristylis elegans"
74	"Glume mucro absent or glabrous"	75
75	"Spikelets ovoid to narrowly ovoid; leaves with a prominent mid-rib and rib like margins; rachillas with ragged scale like wings after the achenes have fallen"	"Fimbristylis quinquangularis"
75	"Spikelets mostly globose; leaves with thinly grooved margins, no mid-nerve; rachillas not winged"	"Fimbristylis littoralis"
76	"Glume with an obvious broad, whitish membranous margin"	77
76	"Glume with no obvious membranous margin"	80
77	"Glume apex obtuse or muticious"	"Fimbristylis cymosa"
77	"Glume apex with a mucro or at least acute"	78
78	"Glumes less than 2 mm long"	"Fimbristylis elegans"
78	"Glumes greater than 2 mm long"	79
79	"Glume mucro 0.4 mm long; spikelets distinctly angular in cross section"	"Fimbristylis subaristata"
79	"Glume mucro 0.2 mm long or less; spikelets obscurely angular in cross section"	"Fimbristylis micans"
80	"Stems in upper part strongly flattened and winged"	"Fimbristylis complanata"
80	"Stems not flattened, may be slightly compressed, but not winged"	81
81	"Glumes with distinctly raised reddish brown glandular flecks"	"Fimbristylis cinnamometorum"
81	"Glumes with no reddish brown flecks"	82
82	"Glumes greater than 2.5 mm long"	"Fimbristylis buchananensis"
82	"Glumes less than 2.5 mm long"	83
83	"Spikelets not more than 1.2 mm wide"	"Fimbristylis microcarya"
83	"Spikelets greater than 1.3 mm wide"	"Fimbristylis cymosa"
84	"Stem in upper part strongly flattened and winged; ligule ciliate"	"Fimbristylis complanata"
84	"Stems triquetrous; ligule absent"	85
85	"Style with a basal whorl of hairs covering the apex of a dark achene"	"Fimbristylis furva"
85	"Style not as above"	86
86	"Achene with 5-10 conspicuous longitudinal ribs on either face with numerous cross-bars, glistening white to stramineous, occasionally golden brown"	"Fimbristylis dichotoma"
86	"Achene smooth, finely reticulate, verrucose or tuberculate"	87
87	"Glumes greater than 4 mm long"	"Fimbristylis neilsonii"
87	"Glumes less than 4 mm long"	88
88	"Involucral bracts and surface of upper glumes pubescent"	"Fimbristylis sericea"
88	"Involucral bracts and upper glumes not pubescent, margins may be slightly ciliate"	89
89	"Inflorescence head like"	"Fimbristylis schultzii"
89	"Inflorescence a panicle"	90
90	"Glumes 1.3 to 2.5 mm long; mainly coastal plant"	"Fimbristylis cymosa"
90	"Glumes 2.8 to 3.5 mm long; inland plant"	"Fimbristylis buchananensis"