Key to the Genus Pombalia
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| 1a | Leaf blades broadly lanceolate (rarely linear-lanceolate), apex acute or abruptly attenuate, margins shallowly serrate to serrulate (rarely subentire); corolla whitish to violet or purple, > 15 mm long, bottom petal 2.5–3 × as long as others; native to Mexico, Central & South America, just entering s. AZ, recently reported as introduced (incorrectly identified as P. linearifolia) in Miami-Dade Co., FL | |
| Pombalia attenuata (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Paula-Souza | 1b | Leaf blades narrowly linear to (ob)lanceolate, rhombic-lanceolate or obspatulate, apex acute, margins entire or prominently crenate to serrate; corolla white to cream or yellowish, < 5 mm long, bottom petal 1.5–2 × as long as others | 2 |
| 2a (1) | Leaves subtending flowers or fruits much reduced; leaf blades lanceolate to rhombic-lanceolate, margins prominently crenate to serrate; apex of bottom petal blade bilobate; native to South America, sporadic waif in NJ and NC, established in GA | |
| Pombalia parviflora (Mutis ex L.f.) Paula-Souza | ||
| 2b | Leaves subtending flowers or fruits not reduced; leaf blades narrowly linear to (ob)lanceolate, margins entire; apex of bottom petal broadly rounded; native of grasslands and open xeric sites, sw. North America and Great Plains | |
| Pombalia verticillata (Ortega) Paula-Souza |