Resolving páramoPoa(Poaceae): morphometric and phylogenetic analysis of the ‘Cucullatacomplex’ of north-west South America

Abstract

Species delimitation in the Poa taxa of the ‘Cucullata complex’ from the páramos of north-west South America, morphologically defined by open panicles and webbed calluses, among other characters, has been complicated by their large morphological variability coupled with a lack of available taxonomic treatments. Using multivariate morphometric and phylogenetic analyses, distinct groupings of taxa were identified including the new páramo taxa, P. bricenoi sp. nov. from Venezuela and P. cucullata subsp. cucullatella subsp. nov. from Ecuador, which are described and illustrated. Poa scabrivaginata is also presented as a new record for Ecuador and páramo vegetation in general. Based on the results from this study, updated descriptions and images are also presented for P. chirripoensis, P. cucullata s.s., P. petrosa and P. scabrivaginata, and an identification key is provided for the species of the Cucullata complex and other open-panicled Poa spp. from Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela.