1	Tillers intravaginal (cataphylls absent, elongated prophylls present at juncture of lateral shoots), lateral tending rhizomes absent; densely tufted and usually forming large tussocks with basal foliage reaching (10−)20–80+ cm tall and often > ½ the length of the culms; sheaths of tillers and basal culm (3–)12–24 cm long; leaf blades of tillers and basal culm (4−)12−66.5+ cm long; lowermost lemmas (4.5−)5−7(−9) mm long; fertile anthers (1.8−)2−4 mm long (as short as 1.6 mm in var. macra, according to Alexeev 1986) (F. caprina s.l.)	2
–	Tillers extravaginal (rarely some intravaginal shoots also present), lateral-tending or ascending cataphyllous shoots or lateral-tending rhizomes present; plants forming lax short tufts with basal foliage reaching (2−)4−20(−27) cm tall and < ½ the length of the culms; sheaths of tillers and basal culm (0.5–)2–7(–10) cm long; leaf blades of tillers and basal culm (2–)5–15(–26) cm long; lowermost lemmas 4−5.8 mm long; fertile anthers 0.8−1.8 mm long	4
2	Sheaths of old leaves falling apart (shredded) into parallel thin threads; basal foliage ca. 14–30 cm tall, often < ½ the length of the culms; panicle branches and pedicels short-hispid or long-scabrous with hair-like prickles; lemmas, paleas and rachillas short-hispid or long-scabrous with hair-like prickles; lemma apices usually notably bifid, with awn emerging from between the lobes	F. caprina var. irrasa Stapf
–	Sheaths of old leaves entire, not or rarely only very slightly disintegrating into fibres; basal foliage (10−)30–80+ cm tall, generally (> ½) > ¾ to surpassing the length of the culms; panicle branches and pedicels short scabrous; lemmas, paleas and rachillas glabrous, scabrous, but prickles hooked, short hooked, slender or stout, not hair-like, rarely smooth; lemma apices not usually notably bifid, commonly merging into the awn	3
3	Leaf blade abaxial surface antrorsely scabrous throughout	F. caprina var. macra Stapf
–	Leaf blade abaxial surface smooth or rarely antrorsely scaberulous towards the apex	F. caprina var. caprina Nees
4	Sheaths of old leaves falling apart (shredded) into parallel thin threads; leaf blade midrib (middle vein) usually sharp, keel-like, sometimes blunt and rounded; panicles drooping; panicle branches usually pendant, lightly to densely scabrous; lowermost lemma (not including awn) 4.5−5.8 mm long; awn usually present, very rarely muticous, awn 0.5–3 mm long; ovary apex sparsely to densely hairy; fertile anthers 0.8−1.6(−1.8) mm long; basal foliage reaching (2−)4−20(−27) cm tall	F. drakensbergensis Sylvester, Soreng & M.D.P.V. Sylvester
–	Sheaths of old leaves entire, not disintegrating into fibres, lustrous; leaf blade midrib (middle vein) blunt, rounded; panicles erect; panicle branches smooth; lowermost lemma (not including awn) 4−4.2 mm long; awn absent; ovary apex glabrous; fertile anthers 1.5−1.8 mm long; basal foliage reaching to 12 cm tall	F. exaristata E.B. Alexeev