TYPE. Sida 20(1): 24. 2002. Type: Peru. Huancavelica: Prov. Tayacaja, Chuspi - Hda. Tocas, entre Colchabamba y Paucarbamba, monte bajo, 2800 m, 22-IV-1954, TOVAR 2057 (holotype: US; isotype: USM).

DESCRIPTION. Loosely tufted perennials; innovations extravaginal; culms 70-90 cm tall, erect, glabrous with 2-4 nodes in basal half. Sheaths membranous, brown, margins free; auricles absent; ligules 1-2 mm long, membranous, truncate, margins ciliate; leaf blades 8-15 cm long, 1.5-4.5 mm wide, linear, flat, green, scabrous with ribs on abaxial surface. Panicles 15-20 cm long, 7-10 cm wide, open, pendant; branches scabrous. Spikelets 7.5-9.5 mm long, with 3 perfect florets; rachilla 1.1-1.4 mm long, densely pilose; glumes narrowly lanceolate, coriaceous, purplish, glabrous, apex acute sometimes scabrous; lower glume 1.5-1.8 mm long, 1-nerved; upper glume 3.5-4.5(-5) mm long, 1-3 nerved; lemmas 5.5-6.5 mm long, lanceolate, coriaceous to membranous, inconspicuously 5-nerved, purplish-green, scabrous, apex entire; awn 5-7 mm long, terminal, scabrous, straight; palea as long as lemma, two-keeled, keels scabrous; apex hairy, deeply two-dentate. Lodicules 0.8 mm long, lanceolate, acuminate; stamens 3; anthers 1.5--1.6 mm long; ovary apex sparsely hairy. Caryopsis lanceolate; hilum linear, 2/5-1/2 of total length.

LEAF SECTION. Leaf section with numerous vascular bundles; sclerenchyma under both abaxial and adaxial epidermis, discontinuous; unit with vascular bundles, bulliform cells present; abaxial and adaxial epidermis with scattered prickles.

DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT. This species is known only from the Andean forest zone of northern and central Peru, at an altitude of 2800 m.

OBSERVATIONS.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. PERU. Ancash. Prov. Yungay, Huascaran NP, Llanganuco sector, María Josefa trail between Chinancocha and Pucayacu, 77°39´W, 09°05´S, 3700-3850 m, 5-VII-1985, SMITH 10561 (MO). Ayacucho. Prov. Huanta - La Mar, Tambo, Wolken-Nebel-Buschwald, 37 km to Ayna, 3250 m, 23-III-1977, ELLENBERG 7024 (USM). Cajamarca. Prov. Cajamarca, Yumagual, entre San Juan y El Gavilan, ladera con arbustos, 2500 m, 6-X-1975, VEGA et al. 1544 (F). Prov. Contumaza, alrededores de Guzmango, ladera, 2600 m, 25-VII-1992, SAGASTEGUII 14785 (F). Carretera a Yumagual, 2500 m, 26-VI-1966, VEGA 249 (USM).