Revision of the genus Agrostis (Poaceae, Pooideae, Poeae) in Megamexico

Agrostis is one of the most diverse genera of the Poaceae, including ca. 198 species, principally distributed in cold and temperate regions of the world, but also found in the high mountains of the tropics. We present a revision based on morphoanatomical evidence, for the biogeographic region known as Megamexico 3 (i.e., Mexico including the desert areas of southern USA and the Central America territory, to northern Nicaragua). We include taxonomic descriptions and an identification key for the found taxa, maps with the known geographical distribution of the species, and figures with the morphoanatomical characteristics, elevation and phenology. Agrostis is represented in the study zone by 20 species, of which four are endemic and three are introduced. Most records of the genus are distributed in the mountains, above 1500 m a.s.l., in open areas of temperate forests, with conifers and Quercus. Specimens with spikelets occur year round, but most records occur during the wet season, in the months of July to October. We propose a preliminary conservation assessment for each species in the study zone, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature categories: one with Deficient Data (DD), six as Endangered (EN), two as Vulnerable (VU), and 11 as Least Concern (LC).

Automated summary

This study presents a revision of Agrostis based on morphoanatomical evidence, focusing on the Megamexico 3 biogeographic region (Mexico, desert areas of southern USA, and Central America to northern Nicaragua). It provides taxonomic descriptions, an identification key, distribution maps, and figures of morphoanatomical characteristics, elevation, and phenology. Among the 20 Agrostis species in the study zone, four are endemic and three are introduced. Most records are found in the mountains above 1500 m a.s.l., in open areas of temperate forests with conifers and Quercus. Spikelets occur year round, but the majority of records are during the wet season from July to October.