Spartina

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  S. patens

  1a. Reproductive stems 1–4 (–6) mm thick near base; leaf blades 0.5–4 mm wide, involute when fresh; ligules 0.3–1 mm long; panicles with 2–9 (–15) branches 1–7 cm long
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  1b. Reproductive stems (2.5–) 5–20 mm thick near base; leaf blades 5–20 mm wide, 
flat when fresh (sometimes involute in S. cynosuroides); ligules 1–3 mm long; panicles with (3–) 5–67 branches (1.5–) 5–15 cm long
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    S. alterniflora

    2a. Leaf blades smooth or slightly scabrous on the margins and near the apex; rhizomes ± white when fresh, with non-imbricate or only slightly overlapping scales; axis of panicle branches prolonged and often exceeding uppermost spikelet
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    2b. Leaf blades strongly scabrous on the margins and near the apex; rhizomes light brown to purple-brown when fresh, with closely imbricate scales; axis of panicle branches not prolonged or shortly prolonged and then not exceeding the uppermost spikelet
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      S. pectinata

      3a. Upper glumes with awns 3–8 mm long [Fig. 273], the lateral veins usually glabrous; lower glume ¾ to fully as long as adjacent lemma [Fig. 273]
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      S. cynosuroides

      3b. Upper glumes unawned or with awns up to 2 mm long [Fig. 272], the lateral veins usually hispid; lower glume ½ to ⅔ as long as adjacent lemma [Fig. 272]

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 Show photos of:   Each photo represents one species in this genus.