a	Leaves rapidly deciduous Plants appearing leafless Inflorescence much branched (stem-like), erect, prostrate or climbing
	b	Leaves present or developing after flowering Inflorescence not branched (except for one species in Scilla), either a spike or raceme, rarely a head-like cluster of flowers

	a	Infloresence erect or prostrate, wiry Withered perianth forming a cap on the developing capsule	Schizobasis
	b	Infloresence usually climbing, fleshy Perianth persistent, remaining attached to base of capsule	Bowiea

	a	Bracts, at least the lower ones, spurred, sometimes falling early Withered perianth forming a cap on the developing capsule Seeds flattened, shiny, with a loose testa Leaf or leaves often developing after flowering Bulbs sometimes reddish, individual scales often visible
	b	Bracts not spurred, usually persistent, sometimes minute or absent Perianth deciduous or persistent (not forming a cap on the developing capsule) Seeds globose, angular or flat, testa firm Leaf or leaves present during flowering Bulbs never reddish, individual scales not clearly visible, bulb often covered with a tunic

	a	Stamens exserted or filaments usually longer than 3 mm (if shorter then anther thecae always opening by longitudinal slits, not apical pores)
	b	Stamens enclosed Filaments 0.5-2 mm long

	a	Leaves present at flowering, surrounded at base by elongate, membranous sheaths with raised transverse ridges Restricted to Namibia, Northern, Western and Eastern Cape	Tenicroa
	b	Leaves usually developing after flowering, not surrounded at base by elongate, membranous sheaths with raised transverse ridges Not restricted to Namibia, Northern, Western and Eastern Cape

	a	Anther filaments forming a 'lantern' below, free above Flowers nocturnal	Thuranthos
	b	Anther filaments free and spreading, or erect and connivent Flowers usually diurnal

	a	Tepals usually free or fused only near base, lobes usually spreading Stamens usually spreading	Urginea
	b	Tepals usually fused, forming a tube, lobes usually strongly reflexed Stamens usually erect, connivent	Drimia

	a	Flowers 1(or 2) Tepals fused for three-quarters of their length Inflorescence 10-80 mm tall Species widespread	Litanthus
	b	Flowers 5-50 Tepals fused for up to ± half their length Inflorescence 30-700 mm tall Restricted to Namibia, Free State, Northern, Western and Eastern Cape	Rhadamanthus

	a	Flowers stellate or campanulate, not tubular Tepals free or fused near base
	b	Flowers tubular

	a	Plants with 2 opposing, basal, ovate-orbicular, immaculate leaves Flowers green or whitish Restricted to Namibia, Northern and Western Cape	Whiteheadia
	b	Plants with a variable number of leaves, if 2 opposing, basal and ovate leaves, then leaves always maculate (with spots or blotches) and flowers pinkish Distribution wider than above

	a	Inflorescence topped with a coma of green bracts	Eucomis
	b	Inflorescence not as above

	a	Inner tepals erect, outer tepals spreading	Albuca
	b	All tepals ± similar

	a	Inflorescence terminal, often erect Ovules axile, many Leaves immaculate
	b	Inflorescence axillary, flexuose to suberect Ovules basal, 2 in each locule Leaves often maculate (with spots and blotches)

	a	Flowers usually blue, rarely pinkish or white, never yellow Bracts one or two per flower, decurrent	Scilla
	b	Flowers white, yellow, orange, or green, never blue Bracts one per flower, not decurrent

	a	Stigma with three divergent branches Anther filaments connate at base Restricted to Namibia, Northern, Western and Eastern Cape	Neopatersonia
	b	Stigma small and 3-lobed (but no divergent branches) or large and globose Anther filaments free Widespread	Ornithogalum

	a	Tepals usually connivent, occasionally spreading, not reflexed Ovary sessile Not found in Namibia, Northern, Western and Eastern Cape	Drimiopsis
	b	Tepals usually reflexed Ovary stipitate Widespread	Ledebouria

	a	Inflorescence a lax raceme, usually secund Flowers dull green or brown, sometimes yellowish or reddish, deciduous Tepals united at base, then connivent, with inner tepals connivent for longer than outer tepals (forming a short, extended tube), lobes spreading, 3 outer tepals usually tipped with a tail-like appendage, lobes cucullate Leaves 1-many, but never 2 opposing and basal	Dipcadi
	b	Combination not as above

	a	Inflorescence (200-)300-1000 mm tall
	b	Inflorescence up to 100(-200) mm long

	a	Perianth tube curved Old bulb scales breaking up into long coarse fibres Restricted to Namibia, Botswana, Northern Province	Pseudogaltonia
	b	Perianth tube straight Old bulb scales not fibrous above Not restricted to Namibia, Botswana, Northern Province

	a	Leaves usually two or occasionally one or three, subsucculent, rarely many and grass-like Outer perianth lobes shorter than inner, rarely equal Restricted to Namibia, Free State, Northern, Western and Eastern Cape	Lachenalia
	b	Leaves (3)4-many, never succulent or grass-like Inner and outer perianth lobes ± equal

	a	Flowers white, creamy yellow tinged green or pale green Capsule not inflated Restricted to Mpumalanga, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho and Eastern Cape	Galtonia
	b	Flowers pink, red or yellow Capsule inflated Restricted to Western and Eastern Cape	Veltheimia

	a	Flowers all alike (occasionally upper vestigial) Inflorescence a spike, raceme or capitate head
	b	Flowers of two types: outer or lower flowers irregular Inner or apical flowers ± regular Inflorescence capitate, or if a spike or raceme, shorter than 90 mm

	a	Stamens in 2 whorls, filaments free	Polyxena
	b	Stamens in 1 whorl, filaments fused or occasionally free

	a	Inflorescence a spike, raceme or rarely a capitate head Upper flowers of spike or raceme vestigial Outer perianth lobes shorter than inner, rarely equal	Lachenalia
	b	Inflorescence forming a capitate head All flowers developed Outer and inner perianth lobes ± equal

	a	Anther filaments free or fused, forming a tube up to 3 mm long	Massonia
	b	Anther filaments connate, forming a tube at least 10 mm long

	a	Perianth lobes ± 12 mm long Anther filaments arising from mouth of perianth tube Capsule obtriangular, apex retuse	Androsiphon
	b	Perianth lobes ± 2 mm long Anther filaments arising ± halfway up perianth tube Capsule ovoid, with a long beak-like apex	Amphisiphon

	a	Flowers pale yellow ± 40-60 flowers per spike	Neobakeria
	b	Flowers red, orange or bright yellow ± 10 flowers per head	Daubenya