As. Guldahl et al., Variation in the Festuca brachyphylla (Poaceae) complex in Svalbard, elucidated by chromosome numbers and isozymes, BOTAN J LIN, 137(2), 2001, pp. 107-126
Contrasting with former taxonomic treatments, chromosome numbers and isozym
e data support the delimitation of the seminiferous representatives of the
Festuca brachyphylla complex in Svalbard into four species: F baffinensis,
F brachyphylla, R hyperborea and F edlundiae. Unique enzyme markers were fo
und for all species. Festuca brachyphylla proved hexaploid, and the others,
tetraploid. The chromosome numbers of F hyperborea and F brachyphylla (as
circumscribed at present) are new to Svalbard. Festuca baffinensis is the m
ost distinct species within the complex, probably representing a separate e
volutionary lineage. The three other species seem closely related, showing
mutually equidistant relationships. Some deviating plants found on disturbe
d ground might represent hybrid derivatives or an introduced foreign strain
of the elsewhere variable F brachyphylla. Materials of diploid F ovina fro
m northern Fermoscandia was enzymatically closely related to the F brachyph
ylla complex in Svalbard. Festuca brachyphylla, F edlundiae, and R hyperbor
ea all had a stronger affinity to F ovina than to F baffinensis, indicating
that the F brachyphylla complex is an artificial taxonomic group. There ar
e reasons to believe that the origin of the polyploid taxa of the F brachyp
hylla complex can be traced to diploid species of the R brachyphylla and F
ovina complexes. (C) 2001 The Linnean Society of London.