Agrostis scabrifolia Swallen, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 29 (6): 264. 1949

Sylvester, Steven P., Cuta-Alarcon, Lia E., Bravo-Pedraza, William J. & Soreng, Robert J., 2020, Agrostis and Podagrostis (Agrostidinae, Poaceae) from paramos of Boyaca, Colombia: synoptic taxonomy including a key to Colombian species, PhytoKeys 151, pp. 107-160 : 107

Agrostis scabrifolia Swallen, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 29 (6): 264. 1949

Type.

Colombia. Norte de Santander: Collected on páramo de Tama, above Cueva, 3100-3200 m alt., 27 Oct. 1941, J. Cuatrecasas, R.E. Schultes, & E. Smith 12608 (holotype: US (US1850358)).

Notes.

Only known from the type, which was collected in the Cordillera Oriental, in Departamento Norte de Santander that is not too far from Departamento Boyacá and so may possibly occur there. The holotype was out on loan at the time of writing this publication to help clarify its identity. The open panicle and spikelets with palea minute or absent and lemmas with a well-developed dorsally inserted awn are very distinct characteristics which would place the species close to A. mertensii . The species is mentioned to have scabrous culms, at least below the nodes, scaberulous sheaths and scabrous leaf blades while A. mertensii is generally smooth or only scaberulous in the leaf blade adaxial surface and margin. The leaf blades are also mentioned to be stiff and erect while those of A. mertensii are generally lax and soft.