Chusquea parodii A.S. Vega & Rúgolo, 2014

Guerreiro, Carolina, Olivera, J. José Alegría, Rúgolo De Agrasar, Ma. E., Beck, Stephan G. & Vega, Andrea S., 2014, Two new species and synopsis of Chusquea subg. Platonia (Poaceae: Bambusoideae: Chusqueinae) in Bolivia and a new record for Peru, Phytotaxa 183 (4), pp. 224-238 : 228-230

3. Chusquea parodii A.S. Vega & Rúgolo , sp. nov.

Type:— BOLIVIA. La Paz: Nor Yungas, Cotapata, fin del camino asfaltado hacia Coroico, cerca de 3 km de Chuspipata hacia La Paz, 3100 m, 16º18´S, 67º50´W, 7 August 1999, fl., Beck 26221 (holotype LPB!, isotypes K, SI!). Fig. 2 .

Chusquea parodii is related to C. asymmetrica and differs from it by having synflorescences 85–87.5 × 26–32 cm with basal primary branches 13–37 cm long;spikelets (5–)5.2–6.7(–7.5) × 1.7–2 mm, including awns; lower glume 1.2–2.4 mm long, generally ¼–½ the length of the spikelet, 3-nerved, ovate, apex acute, mucronate or abruptly acuminate;upper glume 4.5–6.7(–8) mm long, equal to subequal to the length of the spikelet body, exceptionally shortly exceeding the spikelet, abruptly acuminate; anthers 2–2.5 mm long; and stigmas plumose.

Perennials, ca. 3 m tall, including the synflorescences, densely caespitose, growing in extended colonies. Rhizome 5–6 mm diam., sympodial; cataphylls papyraceous, shining, stramineous-brownish, apex acute, with a rigid mucro 0.2–0.3 mm long, margin and surfaces glabrous. Foliar succession between cataphylls to culm leaves gradual. Culm leaves: with two triangular auricles, blade reduced to a rigid mucro, inner ligule ca. 0.5 mm long, membranaceous. Succession between culm to foliage leaves abrupt. Foliage leaves: pseudopetiole 12–22 cm long, rigid, adaxially surcate, with purplish tints; outer ligule absent; abscission zone between leaf sheath and pseudopetiole conspicuous, irregular; inner ligule ca. 4.5 mm long, entire, without fimbriae; blades 75–86 × 2.5–4 cm, narrowly lanceolate, midrib notoriously eccentric, abaxially prominent on the lower half, abaxially tessellate and weakly tessellate on adaxial surface, apex acuminate, keeled, glabrous. Synflorescence 85–87.5 × 26–32 cm, paniculate, lax. Main axis pluricarinate, scabriusculus on the carinas. Basal primary branches 13–37 cm long. Pulvini well developed, yellow, basally at the axils of the branches and pedicels, glabrous. Rachis scabrous on the margins. Pedicels 1–2.5 mm long, scabrous. Spikelets (5–)5.2–6.7(–7.5) × 1.7–2 mm, including awns. Glumes stramineous and lower lemmas and upper floret brown with purplish tints. Lower glume 1.2–2.4 mm long, variable in length, generally ¼–½ the length of the spikelet, 3-nerved, midrib centric, ovate, apex acute, mucronate or abruptly acuminate, scabrous toward the apex in both surfaces. Upper glume 4.5–6.7(–8) mm long, variable in length, equal to subequal to the length of the spikelet body, exceptionally shortly exceeding the spikelet, ovate at the base and abruptly acuminate, 3-nerved, scabrous toward the apex in both surfaces. Lower and upper sterile lemmas short-awned, both smaller or subequal to the spikelet body, scabrous toward the apex in both surfaces. Sterile lemmas (3–) 4–5 mm long, 3-nerved. Fertile floret scabrous toward the apex in both surfaces. Fertile lemma (4.5–) 5.5–6 mm long, 5-nerved, mucronate. Palea (4.5–) 5.5–5.7 mm long, subequal to the length of the upper sterile lemma, 4-nerved, dorsally sulcate toward the apex, bimucronulate. Lodicules 3, 0.5–1 mm long, membranous, apex acute, keeled. Stamens 3; anthers 2–2.5 mm long, pale-yellow. Ovary glabrous; stigmas 2, plumose. Caryopsis not developed.

Etymology: —Dedicated to Lorenzo R. Parodi (1895–1966), Argentinean botanist and agrostologist.

Geographic Distribution and Ecology: —In Bolivia, it inhabits humid montane Yungas forests and evergreen forests of Ceja de Monte. It occurs in Ceja de Monte together with Llerasia Triana (1858: 37) and Rhynchospora Vahl (1805: 229) .

Dispersion: —The unit of dispersal is disarticulated above the glumes. The diaspore is composed of both sterile lemmas and the upper fertile floret. At maturity the glumes remain stramineous and the diaspore turns brown with purplish tints.

Additional Material Examined: — BOLIVIA. Franz Tamayo: Chocorpa , 3476 m, 14º39´44´´S, 68º57´54´´W, 25 June 2005, veg., Fuentes et al. 8686 ( LPB, MO) . La Paz: Nor Yungas, 1.2 km E de Cotapata , 3200 m, 16º17´S, 67º50´W, 7 May 1990, veg., Solomon et al. 18997 ( LPB, MO, SI, US).

Observations:—The type specimen (Beck 26221) was previously identified (in herb.) as Chusquea tovari L.G. Clark in Fisher et al. (2009: 682) (= Neurolepis weberbaueri Pilger 1921: 446 ). Chusquea tovari differs from C. parodii by its larger leaf blades (107–)148–180(–250) × 4–6.6 cm, longer synflorescences (75–) 90–108 cm long and shorter spikelets 2.5–4 mm long. Also, the palea is dorsally convex, not sulcate at the summit, with an acute apex.

The specimen Solomon et al. 18997 (LPB, MO, SI, US) was previously identified as C. asymmetrica , although anatomical studies placed it under C. parodii .

gynoecium, and one of the three stamens. M. Lodicules, detail. From Beck 26225 (SI), illustrated by Francisco Rojas.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Chusquea parodii. A. Habit. B. Synflorescence. C. Culm leaf: leaf blade reduced to a mucro. D. Pulvinii at the base of synflorescence branches and pedicels. E. Spikelet. F. Lower sterile lemma, dorsal view. G. Palea, ventral view, and flower. H. Palea, dorsal view. I. Lodicules, androecium and gynoecium. J–K. Lower glume, lateral view. L. Stamen. M. Lodicules. N. Gynoecium.A–C from Beck 26221 (SI); D–N from Beck 26221 (LPB), illustrated by Francisco Rojas.