Festuca galiciensis Bednarska, 2017

Bednarska, Iryna & Brazauskas, Gintaras, 2017, Festuca galiciensis, a new species of the F. valesiaca group (Poaceae) from Ukraine, Phytotaxa 306 (1), pp. 21-36 : 33

Festuca galiciensis Bednarska , sp. nov. ( Figs. 3 , 5 )

Festuca galiciensis is similar to F. callieri , F. stricta and F. duvalii but differs in having slightly scabrous or nearly glabrous leaves 0.55– 0.7 mm in diameter; sclerenchyma on cross sections in the form of five well-developed strands that often merge with each other and form broad bands either confluent or somewhat interrupted, unevenly thickened ring.

TYPE: UKRAINE. Ukraina, prov. Ivano-Frankivsk, distr. Halych, in 1.5 km ad orientem ab pag. Kuropatnyky. Steppa rupestris in gypsis ad declive austro-occidentale. Solum petrosum superficiale humoso-carbonaticum in gypsis. Habitat cum Festuca rupicola Heuff. 49°17’03”N, 24°40’12”E, 30 May 2010, I. Bednarska IB-01483 (holotype 031940 LWKS!, isotypes B!, KRAM!, KW!).

Plants perennial, densely caespitose, basal innovations intravaginal. Culms (20–)30–40(–60) cm tall, erect, glabrous or scabrous above. Leaf sheaths open to the base, glabrous or scabrous. Blades of basal vegetative leaves (10–)15–20(– 25) cm long, erect, obtuse, glaucous pruinose, (0.5–)0.57–0.68(–0.8) mm in diameter, abaxially glabrous for 1/2–3/4 of its length (usually scabrous in the upper fourth) or sparsely scabrous (scabridous) on total length, ligules 0.2–0.5 mm long, auricles 0.4–0.8 mm, minutely ciliated. Leaf blade cross section U or V-shaped or oval in outline, 5–7 veins, 3 ribs and 4 furrows, bulliform cells absent, 5 sclerenchyma strands (1 central, 2 marginal and 2 additional), which are in broad bands or continuous forming complete or interrupted ring thickened in central and marginal parts; adaxial epidermis with numerous hairs (20–)30–45 μm, stomata cells (28–)32–38(–42) μm long.

Panicle 5–6.5 cm long, with 17–23 (–33–40) spikelets, branches and pedicels scabrous. Spikelets blue-green or green, more or less pruinose, 5–6 flowered, 6.5–7.5 mm long (6.0– 6.7 mm long to tip of fourth lemma). Glumes green, smooth or minutely scabrous in apical part; lower glumes 2.4–2.8 mm, upper glumes 3.4–3.9 mm long; lemmas 4.0– 4.5 mm long, glabrous or minutely scabrid above, sometimes hairy in the upper half or over most of their length. Chromosome number: 2n = 4x = 28.

Distribution and habitat— This local endemic species is known from only two sites in a small area around village Kuropatnyky and Ozeryany (Rohatyn Opilla W Podolia, W Ukraine). It grows in the rocky semi-arid steppes, often on southwestern-facing slopes, in shallow rocky calcareous soils (rendzina) on gypsum outcrops. It forms a mixed population with Festuca rupicola .

Conservation status— The population F. galiciensis occupies a relatively small territory—its area is limited to gypsum outcrops of the south-west slope of a hill and is only about two hectares ( Fig. 6 ). The area is one of the isolated steppe meadow fragments that are residual in the region ( Kukovitza 1984). Despite extensive searching we were unable to find F. galiciensis elsewhere in the area, except a fragment of the population in the village Ozeryany, which was almost completely destroyed by grazing. Given the small area of the habitat in the locus classicus and economic activities in the region, the population of F. galiciensis is highly endangered. A proposal to expand the territory of Halych [Halytsky] National Nature Park, with the inclusion of F. galiciensis ’ habitat near Kuropatnyky is being discussed. Festuca galiciensis would be considered “Endangered” (EN A4cd; B2a) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria ( IUCN 2014).

Etymology— The specific epithet derives from “Galicia” locality—a historic area in western Ukraine and southeastern Poland, whose name probably comes from the city Galich [Halych] principality, located near locus classicus.

Paratypes — Ukraine. Ivano-Frankivsk region, Halych district, between village Ozeryany and v. Kuropatnyky. Hill outcrops of gypsum strata with semi-arid steppe and petrophilic vegetation, 12 September 2005, Nakonechny ON-00100 ( LWKS 30208 ) ; 20 May 2006, Nakonechny ON-00480 ( LWKS 18627 , 18628 ). Ivano-Frankivsk region, Halych district , v. Kuropatnyky, rock -steppe on the gypsum outcrops. 49°17’1.98”N ; 24°40’8.87”E, 30 May 2010, Bednarska ІВ-01483 ( LWKS 7 sheets, 28 plants) ; 02 July 2011, Bednarska, Kuziarin, Majdanski ІВ-01520 ( LWKS 6 sheets, 28 plants) ; 08 June 2012, Bednarska ІВ-01566 ( LWKS 5 sheets, 23 plants) ; 09 June 2013, Bednarska ІВ-01613 ( LWKS 5 sheets, 27 plants) ; 19 July 2014, Bednarska, Kagalo ІВ-01672 ( LWKS 7 sheets, 25 plants; karyologically examined). Ivano-Frankivsk region, Halych district , v. Ozeryany, pasture meadow near gypsum rocks. 09 June 2013, Bednarska ІВ-1615 ( LWKS 3 sheets, 10 plants). Lviv region, Lviv, Berezanska str., 9, experimental field (cultivation). 20 June 2013, Bednarska ІВ-01620 ( LWKS 2 sheets) .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Cross sections of leaf blades.A–J. Festuca galiciensis (A–H wild plants; I–J cultivated plants). K–O. Festuca rupicola (K–M typical and N–O atypical cross sections for species).

FIGURE 5. Holotypus of Festuca galiciensis (LWKS).

FIGURE 6. The habitat of Festuca galiciensis (gypsum outcrops) in Kuropatnyky (Western Ukraine).