| 1. | Glumes ±1/2 spikelet length | H. rariflora (NSW VIC TAS QLD) |
| Glumes ±equal to spikelet length | 2 | |
| 2. | Spikelets 6-8 mm long; male florets distinctly awned | H. redolens (NSW VIC TAS) |
| Spikelets less than 6 mm long; male florets awnless or minutely awned | 3 | |
| 3. | Spikelets 5-6 mm long | H. submutica (NSW VIC TAS) |
| Spikelets 3-4 mm long | H. fraseri (TAS) |
Key to Hierochloë derived from Vickery 1975
Taxonomic name: