Cynosurus, Linnaeus, 1753

Mokni, Ridha El & Verloove, Filip, 2022, Cynosurus peltieri (Pooideae, Poaceae), a poorly known species endemic to the Algerian-Tunisian terrestrial flora: further insights on its occurrence, IUCN Red List assessment, and lectotypification, Phytotaxa 538 (4), pp. 292-300 : 298

Identification key to the species of the genus Cynosurus in North Africa (translated and modified from Maire 1955; species endemic to North Africa preceded by an *)

1 Inflorescence linear, 3–16 cm long. Ligule very short, up to 1.5 mm long, truncate.........................................................................2

- Inflorescence ovoid to oblong, often (much) shorter. Ligule usually longer, oblong ........................................................................3

2 Perennial. Inflorescence clearly lobed and rather lax, with lower branches often extended and distant. Lemmas of sterile florets long-attenuate, with awn 1.00– 1.25 mm long. Fertile spikelets with 1 or 2 florets, with aristate glumes and lemmas....................... ........................................................................................................................................................................................... * C. peltieri

- Annual. Inflorescence dense, not or only obscurely lobed, with short branches. Lemmas of sterile florets shortly mucronate, not aristate. Fertile spikelets with at least 3 florets, with mucronate glumes and muticous lemmas .......................... * C. polybracteatus

3 Perennial, densely tufted ....................................................................................................................................................................4

- Annual ................................................................................................................................................................................................5

4 Leaves involute, tough, almost pungent, the upper as a continuation of the stem, the inflorescence therefore appearing lateral. Innovations tough and erect, as long as the stem ..............................................................................................................* C. junceus

- Leaves flat, soft, the upper not as a continuation of the stem. Innovations flaccid and shorter than the stem ...............* C. balansae

5 Glumes and lemmas of sterile florets with a long (15–20 mm) awn, distinctly pink coloured at the base, 6–10 times as long as the body of the glume or lemma. Anthers ovoid, 0.4–0.7 mm ............................................................................................... C. coloratus

- Glumes and lemmas of sterile florets with a shorter awn (6–15 mm), 2–4 times as long as the body of the glume or lemma.Anthers oblong to linear, 0.7–2.5 mm ..............................................................................................................................................................6

6 Glumes of the fertile florets as wide as the lemmas. Leaves 3–9 mm wide..................................................................... C. echinatus

- Glumes of the fertile florets much narrower than the lemmas. Leaves 1–3 mm wide........................................................ C. elegans