Cytogenetic, Morphometric, and Ecological Characterization of Festuca indigesta Boiss. in the Southeast of Spain.

Festuca indigesta subsp. indigesta (Poaceae) is endemic to the southeast of Spain, and until recently, it was considered that its range of distribution was restricted to the siliceous core of Sierra Nevada. However, it has been recently extended in the territory to others calcareous mountains. This study investigates the cytogenetic variability throughout the geographic range of this taxon, the possible edaphic preferences of each cytotype, and the morphological variation of cytotypes. Genome sizes and ploidy levels were estimated using flow cytometry and chromosome count. Soil samples were collected to test the nature of the substrate, i.e., pH, and calcium and magnesium contents. Finally, morphological characters were measured in herbarium specimens. This study provides the first genome size data for the species. Hidden cytogenetic diversity was detected in the taxon, comprising hexaploid (2n = 6x = 42), octoploid (2n = 8x = 56) and dodecaploid (2n = 12x = 84) individuals. No relationship between substrate nature and cytotype was observed. Morphological differences were detected for the size of floral parts and stomata among cytotypes, but these were blurred if the entire morphological variation range was considered. Our results suggest that each mountain range could act as a reservoir of morphologically cryptic genetic diversity regarding this taxon.

Genome Size, Chromosome Number and Morphological Data Reveal Unexpected Infraspecific Variability in Festuca (Poaceae).

Polyploidy has played an important evolutionary role in the genus Festuca (Poaceae), and several ploidy levels (ranging from 2n = 2x = 14 to 2n = 12x = 84) have been detected to date. This study aimed to estimate the genome size and ploidy level of two subspecies belonging to the F. yvesii polyploid complex by flow cytometry and chromosome counting. The phenotypic variation of the cytotypes was also explored, based on herbarium material. The genome size of F. yvesii subsp. lagascae has been estimated for the first time. Nuclear 2C DNA content of F. yvesii subsp. summilusitana ranged from 21.44 to 31.91 pg, while that of F. yvesii subsp. lagascae was from 13.60 to 22.31 pg. We report the highest ploidy level detected for Festuca (2n = 14x = 98) and previously unknown cytotypes. A positive correlation between holoploid genome size and chromosome number counts shown herein was confirmed. The morphometric approach showed a slight trend towards an increase in the size of some organs consistent with the variation in the ploidy level. Differences in characters were usually significant only among the most extreme cytotypes of each subspecies, but, even in this case, the high overlapping ranges prevent their distinction.

Vascular plants dataset of the herbarium (COFC) of the University of Cordoba, Spain.

This paper describes the herbarium (COFC) dataset of vascular plants of the University of Cordoba (SW Spain). This dataset is made up of two collections, the General collection (61,377 specimens) and the Historical collection (1,614 specimens). This study has focused mainly on the General collection, which contains the largest number of vascular plant specimens, predominantly angiosperms, mainly provincial and regional (Andalusia, Spain), but also with a good representation of other areas of the Iberian Peninsula and neighboring countries. The place of collection is specified in 99.7% of the labels, about 35% being georeferenced, and it is estimated that, currently, about 86% of the material housed in the herbarium has been databased using Elysia v1.0. software. With more than 178 families, 1,178 genera, and 3,750 species, this collection not only has educational importance, but is a valuable research tool that has been useful for the development of important works such as "Flora Vascular de Andalucía Occidental" and the "Flora iberica". The dataset described in this paper is registered with GBIF (accessible at https://doi.org/10.15468/fdzzal).

Study of the leaf anatomy in cross-section in the Iberian species of Festuca L. (Poaceae) and its systematic significance.

A study of the leaf anatomy in the species of the genus Festuca present in the Iberian Peninsula was made. A total of 68 taxa were included and 15 characters were measured in leaf cross-section. The major anatomical features of each taxonomic group were characterized, and some variability was observed in the taxa. The anatomical patterns observed were compared and discussed with the relationships suggested by the molecular analyses. The leaf outline, the presence or absence of complete girders, and the development degree of the bulliform cells were the main characters to differentiate among fescue species of the fine-leaved clade and those of the broad-leaved clade. The most useful character to segregate species groups within the different taxonomic sections was the arrangement of the sclerenchyma, and a remarkable variability of this character was found in the species of Festuca section Festuca, especially in those located in other lineages according to molecular markers. Most of the anatomical patterns were not exclusive of the sections or lineages, and only some taxa could be anatomically differentiated at species level based on a set of non-taxative characters. The discordant pattern observed in F. henriquesii, a species traditionally included in Festuca sect. Festuca that shared anatomical features with the species of "F. rubra complex", suggests its possible inclusion in the sect. Aulaxyper pending further taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses.