<i>Festucasilana</i> (Poaceae), a new species from the Sila plateau in Italy.

ABSTRACT: A new hexaploid species of fine-leaved fescue from Festucasect.Festuca (Festucasilana Ardenghi, Pallanza & Foggi, sp. nov.) endemic to the Sila plateau is described. The new taxon shows morphological affinities with species of the F.marginata group from which it can be distinguished by higher ploidy, ecology, and leaf cross section anatomy. ddRADseq data suggests F.silana could be a local hexaploid descendant/derivate of the widespread diploid F.marginata. Its distribution is restricted to several localities in the Sila highlands of the Southern Apennines, Italy.

SUBMITTER: Pallanza M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12006820 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature