1	"Leaves with a lamina present on some of sheaths, subulate; sheaths appressed"	"Baloskion tenuiculme"
1	"Leaves reduced to sheath, lamina absent"	2
2	"Culms branched"	"Baloskion tetraphyllum subsp. meiostachyum"
2	"Culms unbranched"	3
3	"Sheaths on the upper portion of the culm mostly bearing an apical tuft of fine hairs 1–4 mm long; spikelets few, mostly 1–7; sterile and flowering glumes mostly fringed with long, fine hairs"	"Baloskion fimbriatum"
3	"Sheaths with apex either glabrous or fringed with downy hairs less than 1 mm long; spikelets few–many; sterile and flowering glumes either glabrous or the margins sparingly hairy or ciliolate"	4
4	"Free (non-overlapping) portion of the lowest subtending bract on the axis of the inflorescence gradually tapered to an acute or obtuse apex or, if more abruptly tapered, then lax, in either case usually longer than the sheathing base and often exceeding the lowest spikelet, the whole appearing more or less lanceolate"	"Baloskion stenocoleum"
4	"Free portion of the lowest subtending bract more or less abruptly tapered to the apex, never lax, shorter or only slightly longer than the sheathing base, only occasionally exceeding the lowest spikelet; internodes of the axis of the inflorescence elongated"	"Baloskion pallens"