| 1A. | Leaflets oblong–obovate to widely obovate, 3–11 pairs per pinna | Z. formosa ssp. formosa |
| 1B. | Leaflets narrowly oblong, elliptic to lanceolate, oblong-ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 5–67 pairs per pinna | 2 |
| 2A. | Leaves with 1–2 (–3) pairs of pinnae | Z. media |
| 2B. | Leaves with 3–7 pairs per pinna, rarely 1–2 pairs per pinna | 3 |
| 3A. | Fruit membranous, its surface usually undulated; filaments red-purple | Z. lambertiana |
| 3B. | Fruit stiffer, thick membranous, the surface usually flat; filaments white or white basally and red-purple distally | Z. portoricensis |