Taxonomic novelties and synopsis of the genus Digitaria (Poaceae, Panicoideae, Paniceae) in Colombia and Venezuela

Abstract

Digitaria cuatrecasasii, a new species from Honduras, Panamá, Colombia and Venezuela, is described and illustrated. The taxonomic position of D. cuatrecasasii is discussed, and its inclusion in sect. Leianthae is proposed. A comparative table and some remarks about the related taxa are included. Digitaria californica var. villosissima, D. corynotricha, D. curvinervis, D. fragilis and D. sacchariflora
are reported for the first time for Colombia. Digitaria aequiglumis var. aequiglumis, D. argillacea var. nulliseta, D. ciliaris var. rhachiseta, D. costaricensis, D. eriantha, D. filiformis var. laeviglumis, D. lehmanniana var. dasyantha, D. parva, D. sacchariflora and D. ternata are cited for the first time for Venezuela. Digitaria cardenasiana and D. villiculmis are here sinonimized under D. corynotricha, and D. aequatorienis under D. pittieri. The following new records for countries are included as follows: D. argillacea var.  argillacea for Perú,  D. argillacea var.  nulliseta for Guatemala,  D. curvinervis for Ecuador and México, D. eriantha for Ecuador, D. fragilis for Nicaragua and Panamá, D. lehmanniana
var.  lehmanniana for Cuba and D. leucites for México. This paper includes synonymy, iconography, geographical distribution and ecology, vernacular names, specimens examined; a key for the identification of taxa is also given. Eleven species are illustrated for the first time.