On three species of Festuca L. (Poaceae) from the Central Mountain System, Spain.

Abstract

Three Festuca species from Central Spain belonging to the Intravaginales group (Festuca sect. Festuca), i.e. F. rivas-martinezii, F. curvifolia, and F. summilusitana, are studied. The qualitative diagnostic characters are given, and it is demonstrated by means of statistical analyses that the three species are also separated by quantitative characters, particularly the length of the spikelet components and panicle, and the diameter and thickness of the leaf blades. The binomial F. curvifolia is lectotypified and accepted as the correct name for a frequently confused species distributed in the Sierra de Guadarrama and Sierra de Ayllón.