TYPE. Bjull. Moskovsk. Obsez. Isp. Prir., Otd. Biol. 89(4): 116. 1984. Type: Ecuador. Pichincha: Iter Regnellianum quartum, Flora Aequatoriensis, prov. Pichincha, vicinity of Quito, Rucu Pichincha, 4650 m, 31-VIII-1939, ASPLUND 8586 (holotype: S).

DESCRIPTION. Dense tussocks up to 80 cm tall; innovations intravaginal; culms erect, scabrous, with one basal node; sheaths wide, coriaceous, stramineous, scabrous; ligule 0.5-1.5 mm long, coriaceous, truncate or emarginate, shortly ciliate; leaf blades about 40 cm long, green, involute, rigid, 1-1.4 in diameter, (somewhat) scabrous, apex obtuse. Panicle contracted (rarely loose), 12-27 cm long, 3-4(-10) cm wide; branches scabrous. Spikelets sterile, forming 1(-2) shoots (i.e. vegetative proliferation); glumes coriaceous, pungent, dark purple, margins above the middle membranous, badious, back scabrous to scabrous; lower glume lanceolate, 4.5-5(-6) mm long, 1-nerved, upper glume oblong-lanceolate, 5-6(7) mm long, 3-nerved; lemmas 1-4 (up to 6 when shoots lacking) per spikelet, 4.5-6(7) mm long, 5-nerved (sometime inconspicuously), lanceolate, entire or slightly two-dentate and than shortly awned (up 0.8 mm), dark purple, margins membranous, badious, back scabrid or papillose; rachilla, callus, palea, lodicules and sexual organs absent; prolifering shoots 1-3 leafed, 1-2.5 cm long.

LEAF SECTION. Leaf section with 11-17 vascular bundles and 9-15 ribs, bulliform cells absent; schlerenchyma under abaxial epidermis continuous, unit with all the vascular bundles; every second bundle (exceptionally all) with schlerenchyma at adaxial epidermis and forming girders. Abaxial epidermis with prickls, adaxial hairs 0.04-0.09 mm long, dense.

DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT. This species is known from swampy and humid patches of grass páramo and lower zone of superpáramo, in altitude 3300-4300 m. It is dominate and co-dominate in communities as Espeletia hartwegiana ssp. centroandina y Calamagrostis recta Cleef et al. 1983, Festuca dolichophylla, Senecio latiflorus & Pentacalia vernicosa Sturm & Rangel 1985, Festuco dolichophyllae-Calamagrostietum effusae SalamaNca et al. 1991, Senecionetum rufescentis-Agrostiosum Cuatrecasas 1934, Calamagrostis effusa & Loricaria cf. complanata Rangel & Luteyn 1995, Espeletia pycnophylla & Arcytophyllum capitatum RANGEL & LUTEYN 1995, Gynoxyo-Polylepidetum sericae SALAMANCA et al. 1991, Loricaria thuyoides & Pentacalia vernicosa RANGEL & LUTEYN 1995, Loricaria thuyoides & Arcytophyllum capitatum RANGEL & GARZÓN 1995, Calamagrostis effusa & Festuca aff. dolichophylla SALAMANCA 1991. Calamagrostis recta, Festuca aff. sublimis & Diplostephium rupestre CUATRECASAS 1934. The species is known from northern Peru, Ecuador and Colombia (Cordillera Central and Cordillera Occidental).

OBSERVATION.The species do not manifest any affinity to some South American Festuca species. It lacks the cataphylls to be considered viviparous form of Festuca procera as mentioned by St.-Yves (1927). Examined specimens are variable in size of spikelets parts, panicle consistency, intensity of rightness and shape of ligule. In some cases it do not agree exactly with Alexeev’s description of this species and also distinguishing from another species described by Alexeev (F. ancachsana and F. peruviana (auct. E.B. Alexeev l.c.) endemic to Peru) is not clear. Observed Peruvian material belongs to species F. asplundii although Alexeev considered this species endemic to Colombia and Ecuador. A vivipary occurs rarely as an abnormal development of panicle and spikelets by some another species such as F. subulifolia, F. procera and F. tolucensis.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. COLOMBIA. Caldas. Mun. Manizales, PN Los Nevados, entrance, 4020 m, 18-IX-1999, STANČÍK 3410 (COL, PRC); STANČÍK 3411 (COL, PRC); way from Casa del Chisne to Río Nereidas, km 5, 3800-4000 m, 18-IX-1999, STANČÍK 3402 (COL, PRC); 3800-4000 m, STANČÍK 3401 (COL, PRC). Carretera Manizales - Nevado del Ruiz, km 72, 4100 m, 1-III-1977, Forrero et al. 3644 (COL, MO). Carretera entre Manizales y el Nevado del Ruiz, 4000 m, 5-V-1959, Pinto-Escobar 415 (COL, PSO). Páramo de Herves, division de Aguato, 3300 m, II-1852 , Triana 810 (COL); 3500 m, II-1852, Triana s.n. (US). Alrededores del Nevado del Ruiz, 4140-4300 m, 9-X-1978, Rangel et al. 1800 (COL); 3700-4200 m, 26-XII-1936, Chardon 5010 (COL); 3400-3700 m, 17-XII-1917, Pennell 3064 (K, MO, US); arenales de Ruiz, 3 km A de la Olleta, 4250 m, 14-X-1972, Cleef et al. 5983 (COL, U, US); 3900-4200 m, 5-V-1940 , Cuatrecasas 9311 (COL, US); 3500 m, XII-1974, Llana 71 (MEDEL); 8-X-1983, Wood 4030 (AAU, K). Carretera El Ruiz - Otún, Hda. Buenos Aires, 3940 m, 20-V-1979, Salamanca AC172 (COL). Páramo de Quindio, 4300-4500 m, 20-VIII-1922, Pennell 9890 (K, US). Cauca. Mun. Popayan, PNN Puracé, Pilimbala, 76º23.65W, 02º20.07N, 4200-4300 m, 6-VII-2000, STANČÍK 3611 (COL, PRC). Puracé, Laguna San Rafael, 3300 m, 6-IV-1985, Wood 4802 (COL, FMB, K). Nariño. Mun. Cumbal, Nevado del Cumbal, N-NE slope, 4100 m, 9-III-1999, STANČÍK 2724 (COL, PRC). Mun. Tuquerres, Volcano Azufral, Laguna Verde, 3750 m, 9-III-1999, STANČÍK 2759 (COL, PRC). Mun. Pasto, Volcano Galeras, 3920 m, 6-VIII-1977, Pinto-Escobar 1845 (COL); 3900 m, 29-X-1983, Wood 4062 (COL); 3900 m, Wood 4063 (FMB, K). Pichincha. W side of Sincholagua, 13-14 500 ft., II-1880, WHYMPER 1326 (K). Risaralda. Mun. Santuário, SE del Cerro Ventanas, Macizo del Tamará, 3820 m, 11-II-1983, Torres-Romero et al. 1875 (COL). Mun. Pereira, PN Los Nevados, Laguna del Otún, 3800 m, 16-II-1980, Jaramillo-Mejía et al. 5634 (COL). Nevado de Santa Isabel, 4300 m, 17-II-1980, Jaramillo-Mejía et al. 5683 (COL). Mun. Santa Rosa, Volcano Santa Rosa, 4280 m, 20-II-1980, Jaramillo-Mejía et al. 5770 (COL). Páramo entre Termales and Líbano, 4000 m, 21-XII-1958, Barclay & Juajibioy 6456 (COL, MO, US). Tolima. Mun. Ibague, 75º19.1W, 04º38.5’N, 4250 m, 8-VI-2000, STANČÍK 3606 (COL, PRC). Mun. Santa Isabel, vertiente oriental abajo del paso de El Otún, 4200 m, 7-II-1980, Jaramillo-Mejía 6237 (COL); Quebrada Africa, 4200-4300 m, 5-II-1980, Díaz-Piedrahita & Jaramillo-Mejía 1821 (COL, U). Valle de Cauca. Mun. Cali, Farallones de Cali, 76º41.7’W, 03º19.78’N, 3950 m, 9-VII-2000 STANČÍK 3612 (COL, PRC); STANČÍK 3613 (COL, PRC); STANČÍK 3614 (COL, PRC); STANČÍK 3637 (COL, PRC). ECUADOR. Azuay. PN Cajas, Totorococha - Mazan valley, 79º10’W, 02º53’S, 4000 m, RAMSAY & SMITH 502 (K, QCA, QCNE); Cuenca - Molleturo road, 3600-4200 m, CLEMENTS et al. 2170 (AAU, QCA, QCNE).Páramo de Soldados, ca 14 km above Soldados, 79 817’W, 02 854’S, 3900 m, LAEGAARD et al. 20931 (AAU, LOJA). Between Huagrarancha and Loma de Galapagos, 3140-3505 m, STEYERMARK 53481 (US). Mun. Cuenca, PN Cajas, N side of Lagoon Taglococha, 79°15´W, 02°47´S, 4100-4200 m, 1-IX-2000, STANČÍK 3849 (PRC, QCA); STANČÍK 3871 (PRC, QCA).. Carchi. Volcano Los Chiles, along road ca 1 km E of pass, 77º57’W, 00º49’N, 3950-3980 m, LAEGAARD 101695 (AAU, QCNE); STANČÍK 3241 (PRC, QCA); STANČÍK 3279 (PRC, QCA); 77º56’W, 00º48’N, 3850-4000 m, LAEGAARD 54972 (AAU, QCNE); SW slope of Volcano Chiles, 3740 m, ØLLGAARD & BALSLEV 8545 (AAU); S slope, RAMSAY 896 (K, QCA). Páramo del Angel, 3700 m, LAEGAARD 101284 (AAU, QCA); sector El Volador, 67º53’W, 00º38’N, 3400-3800 m, DAVALOS 19 (US). Chimborazo. E slope of Mt. Chimborazo, 4450 m, ASPLUND 7927 (S); 4250 m, ASPLUND 7806 (S). El Altar, N side of the Volcano, 4200-4300 m, SKLENÁŘ & KOSTEČKOVÁ 1106 (QCNE); Páramo de los Altares, Collanes valley, 4200 m, RAMSAY & SMITH 415B (K, QCA, QCNE); N side of Volcano, 4200-4400 m, SKLENÁŘ & KOSTEČKOVÁ 1028 (AAU); 4300 m, SKLENÁŘ & KOSTEČKOVÁ 97-10 (QCA); N side, 4400 m, SKLENÁŘ & KOSTEČKOVÁ 91-8 (US). From campsite above Río Alao, 8.5 km E of Guardiana Alao, 3350-3550 m, PETERSON et al. 9204 (K, MO, QCA, QCNE, US). W of pass Alao - Huamboya, 78 ° 25’W, 01 ° 48’S, 3750-3800 m, LAEGAARD 55425 (AAU, QCA). Cerro Yanaurcu, 78 ° 30’W, 02 ° 14’S, 4000-4200 m, SKLENÁŘ & KOSTEČKOVÁ 1478 (AAU). Páramo de Las Tres Cruces, N and E of Alao, 3500 m, BARCLAY and JUAJIBIOY 8804 (MO, US). Between Mt. Chimborazo and Urbina, 3600-4500 m, HITCHOCK 21978 (US). Cotopaxi. Cerro Verde, road San Miguel - Puerto Nuevo, km 29, 3950-4050 m, ØLLGAARD & BALSLEV 9924 (MO). Imbabura. Proantag, 3500-3800 m, ACOSTA-SOLÍS 19199 (US). Mun. Urcuquí, road to Cerro Yanaurcu, 78°20´W, 00°28.5´N, 4150 m, 15-X-2000, STANČÍK 4097 (PRC, QCA). Mun. Cayambe, Volcano Cayambe, swamps below the refugium, 78°00´55.6´´W, 00°00´31.6´´N, 4450 m, 20-X-2000, STANČÍK 4150 (PRC, QCA); STANČÍK 4151 (PRC, QCA).. Loja. Jionbura - Yumba road, ca 3 km W of pass, 79°25’W, 04°44’S, 3450 m, LAEGAARD et al. 18606 (AAU, LOJA, QCA, QCNE). Along road to Fierra Urcu, ca 10 km from main road Loja - Saraguro, 79°15’W, 03°33’S, 3400 m, LAEGAARD et al. 18859 (AAU, LOJA, QCA, QCNE). Cordillera de Amaluza, Laguna de Jimbira, 79°25’W, 04°42’S, 3400 m, CABRERA 438 (LOJA). Laguna Chuquiraga E of Amaluza, 79°22’W, 04°37’S, 3300 m, LAEGAARD et al. 19280 (AAU, LOJA, QCNE). Mun. Saraguro, road to Fierra Urcu, swampy páramo, 79°18´12´´W, 03°42´40´´S, 3400-3450 m, 24-VIII-2000, STANČÍK 3763 (PRC, QCA); STANČÍK 3767 (PRC, QCA). Napo. NP Las Llanganatis, base of Cerro Hermoso on W side, near lake. Methamorphic rock substrate, Páramo and shrubby thickets, 78°18´W, 01°14´S, 3850 m, 13-XI-1999, NEILL et al. 12042 (MO); W of Cerro Hermoso, near saddle between headwaters of Río Verde and Río Topo, slopes on methamorphic rock with bunchgrass and dwarf bamboo (Neurolepis aristata), 78°19.5´W, 01°11´S, 3950 m, NEILL et al. 11992 (MO); camino desde el Páramo de Soguillas hasta Aucacocha, 78°19´W, 01°08´S, 3940 m, 16-XI-1999, NARVAZEZ et al. 548 (MO); Páramo de Soguillas, near Las Torres de Llanganatis, 3850-4000 m, 16-V-1982, OLLGARD & HOLM –NIELSEN 38728 (MO). Pichincha. W side of the mountain ridge ca 2 km W of Cerro Saraurcu, 4200 m, SKLENÁŘ & KOSTEČKOVÁ 1817 (AAU); Nevado Cayambe, W side, 4200 m, SKLENÁŘ & KOSTEČKOVÁ 1142 (QCA).Nevado Cayambe, SW slope, 78°0 8’W, 00°0 8´S, 4400 m, SKLENÁŘ & KOSTEČKOVÁ 1890 (AAU); SW slope, 4250 m, MOLAU & ERIKSEN 3244 (QCA); NE side of Cayambe Mountain, ca 4900 m, CAZALET & Pennington 5763 (K, US); 3 km S of Refúgio on the SW slope, 4220 m, PETERSON et al. 9076 (K, MO, QCA, QCNE, US); along road to refúgium, 77 ° 57’W, 00 ° 04’S, 4300 m, LAEGAARD & RENVOIZ 70511 (AAU, K, QCA, QCNE); W side, 4200 m, SKLENÁŘ & KOSTEČKOVÁ 64-19 (US); N slope, 3750-3800 m, ØLLGAARD et al. 34202 (K, MO). Base of Volcano Sincholagua, 78 ° 22’W, 00 ° 34’S, 4200 m, HOLM-NIELSEN 6612 (AAU, S); Cerro Sincholagua, 3900-4000 m, BALSLEV et al. 3901 (AAU, MO, QCA); W side, 13 000-14 500 ft., WHYMPER s.n. (K). Páramo de Guamaní, ASPLUND 17174 (S). Laguna Linda, 3 km W of Paso de Guamaní, 3900 m, SPARRE 17719 (S); 78 ° 12’W, 01 ° 19’S, 4000 m, LAEGAARD 18449 (AAU, LOJA, QCA, QCNE); 78 ° 23’W, 00 ° 56’S, 3600 m, LAEGAARD 53343 (AAU, QCA, QCNE); 4050 m, ØLLGAARD & BALSLEV 10122 (MO); Laguna de Papallacta, 3750 m, ØLLGAARD & BALSLEV 8170 (MO); antenna, 4000-4100 m, ØLLGAARD & BALSLEV 10074 (M); AGUIRRE et al. 4206 (LOJA); 4050 m, LAEGAARD 51318 (AAU, QCA); S of Paso de la Virgen, 78 ° 13’W, 00 ° 21’S, 4050-4250 m, LAEGAARD 55680 (AAU, QCA); 4200-4250 m, LAEGAARD 101383 (AAU, QCA); W slopes, 3800-4100 m, BALSLEV 1615 (AAU); 4060 m, FIERRP 24 (QCA); 4050 m, NARANYO 4 (QCA); 3960 m, LEN 1139 (QCA). Volcano Cotacachi, 78 ° 20’W, 00 ° 35’S, 4150 m, RAMSAY & SMITH 785 (K, QCNE); 4200 m, SKLENÁŘ & KOSTEČKOVÁ 112-25 (QCA). Vicinity of Quito, Rucu Pichincha, 4650 m, ASPLUND 8586 (S); ASPLUND 8576 (MO, NY, QCA, S). Volcano Antisana - Laguna Micacocha, ØLLGAARD & BALSLEV 8868 (MO); 3850 - 3950 m, LAEGAARD 101595 (AAU, QCA, QCNE); valley NW of N peak of Volcano, 4000-4300 m, GRUBB et al. 639 (K). Páramo de Mojanda, between Laguna Grande and Laguna Negra, 78 ° 16’W, 00 ° 08’N, 3700-3800 m, LAEGAARD 54581 (AAU, QCA, QCNE). Mun. Pifo, Páramo de Guamaní, grassy páramo, 78°12´W, 00°19´S, 4300 m, 19-VI-1999, STANČÍK 3044 (PRC, QCA); STANČÍK 3050 (PRC, QCA). Mun. Amaguaña, summit of Volcano Pasochoa, 78°29´W, 00°28´S, 4200 m, 14-IX-2000, STANČÍK 3675 (PRC, QCA, US); STANČÍK 3703 (PRC, QCA). Sucumbíos. Páramo Mirador, SW of Playon de San Francisco, 3400-3600 m, PETERSON et al. 9154 (US). Tungurahua. Cordillera de Llanganatis, El Tambo near Lake Yanacocha, 3650 m, ASPLUND 10000 (S); below summit of Pan de Azucar, 4100 m, ØLLGAARD et al. 38541 (AAU, MO, NY, QCA); ØLLGAARD et al. 38540 (AAU). N slope towards Río Golpe just N of Aucacocha, 3600 m, ØLLGAARD et al. 38670 (AAU, MO, NY, QCA).Las Tolas, ca 5 km SE of Laguna Pisayambo, 78°21’W, 01°07’S, 3900-4000 m, LAEGAARD et al. 20733 (AAU, LOJA); Páramo de Jaramillo, 78°02’W, 01°0 8’S, 4000-4250 m, LAEGAARD 53289 (AAU, QCNE). Faldas de Cazahuala, 3200 m, ACOSTA-SOLÍS 5097 (US). Mun. Pillaro, Las Llanganatis, Río Milín, 78°21´W, 01°07´37´´S, 3750 m, 28-IX-2000, STANČÍK 3904 (PRC, QCA). Zamora-Chinchipe. Sendero Amaluza - Palanda, cerca de la Laguna Arrebatadas, 3350 m, LARSEN et al. 21 (AAU, NY, QCA). PERU. Amazonas. Prov. Chachapoyas, upper slope of Cerro Campanário, 3600-3900 m, 3-VIII-1962, WURDAC 1572 (US). Ancachs. Yungay Prov., Huascaran NP, Llanganica Sector, Qubrada Ancachs at portachuelo, 77°35´W, 09°03´S, 4770-4870 m, 31-XII-1984, Smith et al. 8879 (QCA, U); Smith 11318 (MO, QCNE); Morococha at largest lake, Polylepis woods and steep slopes with tussock grassland, comon near laker shore, 77°35´W, 08°55´S, 4550 m, 15-I-1985, SMITH et al. 9225 (MO). Prov. Huari, Catac-Chavin road, 40 km from Catac, Huascaran NP, 77°13´W, 09°42´S, 4360 m, 18-VIII-1984, SMITH 8284 (K, MO, US). Prov. Recuy, Huascaran NP, camino over Cahuish Tunnel, puna, 77°15´W, 09°41´S, 4550-4500 m, 7-X-1985, SMITH et al. 11127 (MO). Cajamarca. Prov. Hualgayoc, desvio de la carretera Coymolache - Chugur, Cerro Tantahuatay, 3700 m, 29-IV-1994, VEGA 7087 (F). Prov. Cajammarca, 52 km N of Cajamarca, on Hgw. 3N towards Bambamarca, and aproximatly 1 km W on a small road "Carretera Lagunas Yanacanchilla", slopes and rocks outcrops below small peak with Deyeuxia, Stipa, Agrostis, 3800-3900 m, 16-III-2000, PETERSON et al. 14892 (K, MO, US). Cajamarca - Bambamarca road, 55 km N of Cajamarca, 78°35´W, 06°55´S, 3750 m, 6-II-1984, SMITH et al. 7428 (MO). La Libertad. Prov. Bolivar, entre Longotea y Bolivar, en jalca, 3600 m, 2-VI-1960, LOPEZ & SAGASTEGUI 3340 (US). Prov. Pataz, Paso de Alaska, Carretera a Tayabamba, 3900 m, 24-VI-1974, LOPEZ & SAGASTEGUI 8180 (K, MO). San Martin. Prov. Mariscal Caceres, grassland in NW sector Río Abiseo NP, 77°30´W, 07°40´S, 3650 m, LEON & YOUNG 1662 (MO).