So identified in Cayambe-coca Park in the Ecuadorian Andes. This is known as Bretaa and used in thatching. The taxon is troubled, however and may wind up in the Chusquea genus.
shrub to 4 m, in clumps, stems arching, greenish-purple, solid in cross-section, glumes dark purplish-brown, dominant in the understory Project web address: www.inbio.ac.cr/pila-darwin/