Convergence strikes again in the Neotropical woody bamboos (Poaceae: Bambusoideae: Bambuseae): a new Andean genus and a new species

Abstract

Aulonemiella (Poaceae: Bambusoideae: Bambuseae: Arthrostylidiinae), a new Andean genus from Colombia and Ecuador, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by its delicate scandent, vining habit, filiform to narrowly triangular, reflexed culm leaf blades, short, delicate foliage leaf fimbriae, synflorescences with subtending bracts and prophylls, awnless spikelets in spicate to racemose synflorescences and clavate rachilla internodes. The new species Aulonemiella laegaardii (southern Ecuador) is described, and the new combination A. ecuadorensis (Colombia and northern Ecuador) is made. Aulonemiella laegaardii is smaller overall and more delicate than A. ecuadorensis; it is also distinguished by its filiform, recurved culm leaf blades and paleas shorter than the lemmas. The culm leaf blades of A. ecuadorensis are narrowly triangular and straight, and its paleas are subequal to the lemmas; in addition, the synflorescence axes of A. ecuadorensis are usually apically zigzag at maturity.