Key 1
1a. Bamboos, culms woody; lower culm sheaths broad with rudimentary blades ................................................... 1. Bambuseae (p. 7)
1b. Herbs, occasionally reeds or culms canelike; lower culm sheaths with normal blades.
2a. Spikelets arranged in pairs (rarely triads) on fragile racemes; raceme rachis breaking up into segments bearing a
sessile and pedicelled spikelet .............................................................................................................................................. Key 2
2b. Spikelets arranged singly in panicles or racemes (occasionally raceme fragile but spikelets single; or spikelets
paired but raceme tough).
3a. Spikelets with strictly 2 florets and no rachilla extension; lower floret staminate or barren, sometimes reduced
to an empty lemma, upper floret fertile ......................................................................................................................... Key 2
3b. Spikelets with 1 to many florets (if 2 florets, then both fertile, or the lower fertile, or rachilla extension
present).
4a. Spikelets with 2 or more fertile florets .................................................................................................................... Key 3
4b. Spikelets with 1 fertile floret, sometimes with additional staminate or barren florets ........................................... Key 4