A New Species of Agrostis (Poaceae, Pooideae, Poeae, Agrostidinae) from the Andean Paramos of Colombia and Ecuador

Agrostis laegaardii A. M. Molina & Rugolo (Poaceae), a new species restricted to the high paramos from Colombia and Ecuador, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically most similar to A. breviculmis Hitchc. but differs in spikelet length, pedicel apex, glume texture, relative distance between upper glume and floret, lemma and palea length, and the presence of an awn on the lemma. Micromorphology of the spikelet is discussed, and a Trichodium net is reported on the epidermis of the lemma. A distribution map and a key to the Colombian and Ecuadorean species of Agrostis L. with contracted inflorescences are provided.