Cortaderia pungens Swallen, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 29: 251. 1948.

Testoni, Daniel & Linder, H. Peter, 2017, Synoptic taxonomy of Cortaderia Stapf (Danthonioideae, Poaceae), PhytoKeys 76, pp. 39-69 : 57

11. Cortaderia pungens Swallen, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 29: 251. 1948.

Danthonia confusa L.B.Sm., Phytologia 22(2): 89. 1971, non Danthonia pungens Cheeseman, 1906. Type: Colombia, Dept. Santander, Páramo de Santurban, near Vetas, 17 Jan. 1927, E. P. Killip & A. C. Smith 17467 (lectotype, designated as holotype by Connor & Edgar, Taxon 23: 600 (1974): US 00133443!; isolectotype: K!).

Etymology.

pungens (Latin): piercing, terminating in a sharp point. This describes the leaf tips.

Taxonomy.

This species is often placed with Cortaderia hapalotricha , from which it differs by (a) shorter growth-form (less than 1 m tall); (b) the intact leaf bases; (c) the rolled, pungent leaves; and (d) deeply lobed lemmas. The two species have much in common (leaf anatomy, spikelet and inflorescence structure). It is possible that they are ecotypes of each other, and the problem needs critical field work. We keep them separate on the very different growth-form. The intact leaf bases and pungent leaves suggest a relationship to Cortaderia sericantha and Cortaderia echinata , but the species is readily separated from these two by the much shorter glumes.

The leaf anatomy was not studied.