Carex orothanatica Lois, Acedo, Reznicek & Jim. Mejias 2023, sp. nov.

Carex orothanatica Lois, Acedo, Reznicek & Jim.Mejías, sp. nov. (Figs. 2–4) Diagnosis:— The Costa Rican Carex orothanatica is similar to the Guatemalan endemic C. tojquianensis Standley & Steyermark (1953: 64). Both taxa clearly differ in the morphology of the utricle beak, bifid in C. orothanatica vs. truncate in C. tojquianensis, and by the color of its glumes, purplish-black in C. orothanatica vs. dark brown in C. tojquianensis. This new species is also similar to the much larger Carex cortesii Liebmann (1850: 268), endemic from Mexico. Both species clearly differ by leaf dimension, 30–40 cm × 4–5 mm in C. orothanatica vs often longer than 100 cm long and 7–8 mm wide in C. cortesii, the number of spikes of the inflorescence, lower than 10 in C. orothanatica vs higher than 20 in C. cortesii, wider and longer utricles in C. orothanatica, 3.3–3.5 × 1.8–2.0 mm than in C. cortesii, 2.2–2.5 × 1.1–1.3 mm. Type:— COSTA RICA: Province of Cartago: Cordillera de Talamanca: Cerro de la Muerte, Pan-American Highway, 5 km above Villa Mills (about 8 km above Nivel) 9°34’N 83°45’W, crevices in rock ledges and on Paramo, 3400–3500 m, 25 July 1949, R. W . Holm & H. H. Iltis 563 (Holotype: A! (Figs. 2–4); isotype: P!). Cespitose, rhizomes densely covered with short yellowish to stramineous hairs. Stems 25–40 cm tall, ± 0.15 mm wide at the middle, smooth, trigonous, sides concave below the inflorescence, reddish-brown at the base. Leaves with welldeveloped blades, largest ones 30–40 cm × 4–5 mm, usually shorter than the stems, linear, subcoriaceous, reddishbrown at the base, W-folded, margin slightly revolute; ligule 0.3–0.4 mm long, acute, orangey-brownish; sheaths orangey-brownish. Inflorescence racemose, 5.0–7.0 cm long, with 7–9 androgynous spikes, spreading or dropping; lowermost bract 5.5–7.5 cm × 2–3 mm, slightly longer than the inflorescence, subcoriaceous, W-folded, sheathless or with a short sheath