STUDIES IN FESTUCA. 11. INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF SOME PUTATIVE DIPLOID ANCESTORS OF THE POLYPLOID BROAD‐LEAVED FESCUES

Abstract
SUMMARY: The relationships of six diploid Festuca species were studied: Section Montanae: F. donax, drymeja, altissimaScariosae: F. scariosaBovinae: F. pratensisOvinae: F. polesica.The criteria used were ability to hybridize, and fertility and meiotic chromosome pairing in the F1 hybrids. The closest affinity discovered was amongst the species within Section Montanae, there was also a strong affinity between these and F. scariosa, and a weak link with F. pratensis and F. polesica. The results are briefly discussed from the standpoint of species‐relationships in Festuca and Lolium.