Abstract

A new species of Rytidosperma (R. quirihuense; Poaceae: Arundinoideae: Danthonieae) from south-central Chile (36°13?S, 72°45?W) is described and illustrated. It differs morphologically from other South American representatives of the genus. Its closest phenetic affinities are with Rytidosperma paschale, from which it differs in possesion of a distichous panicule, as well as differences in size of the terminal spikelet, and in the density and length of hairs on the fascicules of the lemma.