ACTA BOT. CROAT. 81 (1), 2022 61 Acta Bot. Croat. 81 (1), 61–69, 2022 CODEN: ABCRA 25 DOI: 10.37427/botcro-2022-002 ISSN 0365-0588 eISSN 1847-8476 Festuca albomontana (Poaceae), a new chasmophytic fescue from the Western Taurus Mountains (Antalya, Turkey) Candan Aykurt1*, Burçin Çıngay2, Hüseyin Sümbül1, Mertcan Gülben3, Evren Cabi4, Zeynep Öz3 1 Akdeniz University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Antalya, Turkey 2 Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanical Garden, İstanbul, Turkey 3 Akdeniz University, Graduate School of Applied and Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, Antalya, Turkey 4 Namık Kemal University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, Tekirdağ, Turkey Abstract – A new species of Festuca from the Western Taurus Mountains (Antalya, Turkey) is described here and named F. albomontana. The new species can clearly be distinguished from the other species included in the F. alpina group by its leaf anatomical features. It has a geographically isolated position in the Western Tauruses whereas a closely related species, F. sommieri, is very local in the Black Sea Region of Turkey. It is suggested that it should be in the “critically endangered” threat category according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria. Observations on the ecology of the population are noted. Keywords: anatomy, Festuca, morphology, new species, taxonomy, Turkey Introduction The grass family (Poaceae), with about 12,000 species and 780 genera, ranks as the second largest monocot fam- ily and the fifth largest plant family in the world (Clayton and Renvoize 1986, Kellogg 2015, Christenhusz and Byng 2016, Soreng et al. 2017). In the checklist of the family Poaceae in Turkey, Cabi and Doğan (2012) reported that Turkey hosts 146 grass genera including 547 species (658 taxa). After the publication of the checklist of the Poaceae, still more new grass taxa were recorded or described for the Turkish flora (e.g. Cabi et al. 2013, 2015a,b, Doğan et al. 2015, Cabi and Soreng 2016, Cabi et al. 2018, Terzioğlu and Özkan 2020, Behçet and Yapar 2021). Festuca L. is a genus of the family Poaceae with about 636 species, distributed in Europe, Africa, temperate Asia, tropical Asia, Australasia, the Pacific, North America, South America and Antarctica (Clayton and Renvoize 1986, Watson and Dallwitz 1992, Clayton et al. 2006-onwards, Martínez-Sagarra and Devesa 2019, POWO 2021). It is char- acterized by its perennial habit, paniculate inflorescence, usually with 4–5 flowered spikelets, rounded lemmas on the back and linear hilum running the length of the caryopsis. Festuca is not a well-researched genus for the Turkish flora, probably because of the high phenotypic plasticity and vari- ability at the taxon level, which makes identification de- manding. Taxonomic opinion since the first major mono- graph of Hackel (1882) on the genus, has varied, and it has been divided into several subgenera and sections or even segregate genera (Saint-Yves 1922, Tzvelev 1971, Alexeev 1977, 1978, 1981, 1986, Clayton and Renvoize 1986, Aiken et al. 1997). In recent years, molecular phylogenetic studies conducted on the genus Festuca and its putative relatives have demonstrated the paraphyly of Festuca s.l. (Darbyshire and Warwick 1992, Charmet et al. 1997, Gaut et al. 2000, Torrecilla and Catalán 2002, Catalán et al. 2004, 2007, Inda et al. 2008, Foggi et al. 2012). Clayton and Renvoize (1986) and Aiken et al. (1997) recognized the following subgenera: Drymanthele Krecz. and Bobrov, Helleria Alexeev, Leucopoa (Griseb.) Hack., Schedonorus (P. Beauv.) Peterm., Subulatae (Tzvelev) Alexeev, Xanthochloa (Kriv.) Tzvelev and Festuca. Then, the subgen. Leucopoa, subgen. Schedonorus, subgen. Drymochloa Holub and subgen. Parafestuca E.B. Alexeev were recognized as segregated genera (Foggi et al. 2012). Ad- * Corresponding author e-mail: candan@akdeniz.edu.tr AYKURT C., ÇINGAY B., SÜMBÜL H., GÜLBEN M., CABI E., ÖZ Z. 62 ACTA BOT. CROAT. 81 (1), 2022 ditionally, species from the F. paniculata complex were re- cently separated into a separate genus Patzkea (L.) G.H.Loos (Loos 2010). The subgenus Festuca is the largest and taxonomically most complex group (Hackel 1882, Saint-Yves 1922, Markgraf- Dannenberg 1980) in this genus. Drawing on molecular data, Catalán et al. (2007) proposed a new circum scription of the subgenus, recognizing only the sections Festuca, Aulaxyper Dumort. and Eskia Willk., and later, Inda et al. (2008) added the sections Dimorphae Joch. Müll. and Catalán, Amphigenes (Janka) Tzvel., Scariosae Hack., Pseudoscariosa Krivot, Lojaconoa Catalán and Joch. Müll. and Subbulbosae Nyman ex Hack. This genus is especially diverse in the northern hemi- sphere, and it is likely that the Eurasian region was its center of origin (Catalán et al. 2004, Inda et al. 2008). The genus Festuca is represented by 66 taxa of which 27 are endemic to Turkey according to Cabi and Doğan (2012) and were ar- ranged in three subgenera and four sections (Markgraf- Dannenberg 1985). Antalya is the richest province of Turkey in terms of plant diversity (Deniz and Aykurt 2014). A large part of the acreage of Antalya province is the mountainous Western Taurus range, and this area is one of the important ende- mism centers of Turkey. During the project, in which we investigated the Poaceae diversity of the high mountainous area of Antalya province, a large number of Poaceae samples were collected and evaluated in detail in terms of morphol- ogy. Festuca is one of the genera with the largest number of species in this area. The taxa of this genus, which is taxo- nomically highly complex, occurring in the Western Taurus Mountains, are included in Sect. Festuca Subsect. Festuca, except F. gigantea (L.) Vill. and F. anatolica Markgr.-Dann. subsp. anatolica. The species of this subsection were evalu- ated under five groups, which are Frigida, Laevis, Indigesta, Valesiaca and Ovina, in Turkey (Markgraf-Dannenberg 1985). The most useful character to segregate species groups within the different taxonomic sections is the arrangement of the sclerenchyma, and a remarkable variability of this character is found in the species of Festuca Sect. Festuca (Martínez-Sagarra et al. 2017). For Festuca taxonomy, leaf anatomical characters may be the most important diagnostic character (e.g. Markgraf- Dannenberg 1985, Foggi and Rossi 1996, Martínez-Sagarra et al. 2017). The anatomical characteristics of the species distributed in the subalpine and alpine zones of the Western Taurus Mountains are given in this study. The leaf anatom- ical features of the new species have been compared with morphologically similar species within the same group and the species included in the other species groups of the Sect. Festuca Subsect. Festuca occurring in Turkey. Materials and methods A large number of Festuca specimens were collected during field studies for a floristic survey for the project named “A research study on the grass family (Poaceae) dis- tributed in the high mountain zone in Antalya province” between the years 2018 and 2020. The morphological char- acteristics of all these specimens were recorded both in the field and in the laboratory. Specimens collected were evalu- ated by the use of related literature (Tzvelev 1971, Alexeev 1977, Markgraf-Dannenberg 1980, 1985, Clayton and Renvoize 1986, Watson and Dallwitz 1992, Kellogg 2015) and the specimens were deposited in AKDU and Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanical Garden (NGBG). The overall morphology of the specimens was examined under a stereo-binocular micro- scope. The new species described here is known from only its type locality. We visited this locality three times between the years 2019 and 2020 and collected a few individuals without damaging the population. Ten individuals were evaluated for morphological determination of F. albomontana Aykurt, Çıngay, Sümbül & Cabi. We used standard mea- surements and terminology in accordance with Hackel (1882), Markgraf-Dannenberg (1985), Ellis (1987), Fuente and Ortúñez (1998), Foggi et al. (1999), Martínez-Sagarra and Devesa (2019). For the anatomical studies, the tiller leaves taken from herbarium samples were used. Leaves were kept in distilled water for c. five minutes. Transverse sections ± 0.05 mm thick were cut from pieces of tiller leaf fixed in styrofoam, by hand using a razor blade. This was done under a stereo- microscope using reflected light. Results The occurrence of nine Festuca species (10 taxa) was de- termined in the high mountainous area (Western Taurus) of Antalya province with the project mentioned above. Apart from F. anatolica subsp. anatolica (Sect. Variae) and F. gigantea (Sect. Bromoides), all the remaining Festuca spe- cies in the Western Taurus, F. callieri (Hack.) Markgr. sub- sp. callieri, F. callieri subsp. zederbaueri Markgr.-Dann., F. elwendiana Markgr.-Dann., F. valesiaca Schleich. ex Gaudin, F. jeanpertii (St.-Yves) F. Markgr. subsp. jeanpertii, F. pinifolia (Hack. ex Boiss.) Bornm. var. pinifolia, F. sipylea (Hack.) Markgr.-Dann., and F. albomontana described here as a new species, are included in the Sect. Festuca Subsect. Festuca. This subsection is divided into five groups according to Flora of Turkey. Considering the new species described here, the species representing each group are distributed in the Western Taurus Mountains: Festuca albomontana in the Frigida group, F. jeanpertii subsp. jeanpertii in the Laevis group, F. pinifolia var. pinifolia in the Indigesta group, F. valesiaca, F. callieri (subsp. callieri and subsp. zederbaueri) and F. elwendiana in the Valesiaca group, and F. sipylea in the Ovina group. The transverse sections taken from the tiller leaf blades of these taxa are shown in Fig. 1. F. pinifolia var. pinifolia and F. sipylea have sclerenchyma forming a continuous ring. All the remaining taxa except for F. pini- folia var. pinifolia have sclerenchyma forming abaxial strands. In F. pinifolia var. pinifolia, sclerenchyma strands FESTUCA ALBOMONTANA (POACEAE), A NEW SPECIES FROM TURKEY ACTA BOT. CROAT. 81 (1), 2022 63 are located both abaxially and adaxially. Festuca alpina group species are distinguished by relatively small strands. The transverse section of tiller leaves of the new species is more or less rounded, polygonal, not closed and not V- shaped. There are 5 vascular bundles and 5–8 small scleren- chyma strands, also with 2 very small submarginal acces- sory sclerenchyma strands, located under the abaxial side of the epidermis in F. albomontana. The median strand is generally slightly larger than the others. The 3 adaxial ribs are prominent. Festuca albomontana is a chasmophytic species growing on rock crevices of the subalpine zone of Akdağ (Alanya, Antalya) and known only from its type location. The bed- rock of this location is called Payallar formation and con- sists of Paleozoic schist, phyllite, quartzist, quartz etc. This formation is represented by lowly metamorphosed schists with quartzite, nodular limestone, marble dolomite inter- layers (Şenel et al. 2016). Densely tufted new fescue is morphologically character- ized by 1. its fine, soft and glabrous leaves; 2. simple panicles with few spikelets; 3. lemmas with a long awn. A detailed comparison of both the morphological and anatomical characters of the new species and its morphologically close relatives are shown in Tab. 1. Discussion In Turkey, the species included in the Frigida group, which are F. cratericola Markgr.-Dann., F. sommieri Litard. and F. bushiana (St.-Yves) Tzvelev, are low plants of high al- pine habitats, with short, simple panicles. These species are characterized by their (1) leaf sheaths closed nearly at the Fig. 1. Transverse sections of tiller leaf blades: 1a – Festuca albomontana (from holotype), 1b – F. sommieri (from Markgraf-Dannenberg 1985), 1c – F. cratericola (from Markgraf-Dannenberg 1985), 1d – F. alpina (Martínez-Sagarra et al. 2017), 1e – F. alfrediana subsp. alfrediana (from Foggi and Rossi 1996), 2a – F. callieri subsp. callieri (from C. Aykurt 5641), 2b – F. callieri subsp. zederbaueri (from C. Aykurt 5248), 2c – F. elwendiana (from C. Aykurt 5634), 2d – F. valesiaca (from C. Aykurt 5131b), 3 – F. pinifolia var. pinifolia (from C. Aykurt 5649), 4 – F. sipylea (from C. Aykurt 5602), 5 – F. jeanpertii subsp. jeanpertii (from C. Aykurt 4813). AYKURT C., ÇINGAY B., SÜMBÜL H., GÜLBEN M., CABI E., ÖZ Z. 64 ACTA BOT. CROAT. 81 (1), 2022 Ta b. 1 . C om pa ris on o f d ia gn os tic m or ph ol og ic al a nd a na to m ic al ch ar ac te rs o f F es tu ca a lb om on ta na a nd cl os el y re la te d sp ec ie s F . a lfr ed ia na , F . a lp in a, F. cr at er ico la a nd F. so m m ie ri. C ha ra ct er s F. a lb om on ta na F. a lfr ed ia na (F og gi et a l. 20 12 , PO W O 2 02 1) F. a lp in a (F og gi et a l. 20 12 , PO W O 2 02 1) F. cr at er ico la (M ar kg ra f– D an - ne nb er g 19 85 , P O W O 2 02 1) F. so m m ie ri (M ar kg ra f– D an - ne nb er g 19 85 , P O W O 2 02 1) H ab it M or e o r l es s d en se ly tu fte d gr as s w ith a sc en di ng v eg et at iv e s ho ot s M or e o r l es s d en se ly tu fte d gr as s, so m et im es w ith p ro st ra te -a sc en di ng ba sa l v eg et at iv e s ho ot s M or e o r l es s d en se ly tu fte d gr as s, so m et im es w ith p ro st ra te -a sc en d- in g ba sa l v eg et at iv e s ho ot s D en se ly ca es pi to se g ra ss D en se ly ca es pi to se , g la uc ou s gr as s C ul m s ( le ng th a nd in du m en tu m ) 6– 14 cm lo ng , s m oo th , g la br ou s an d di st in ct ly fu se d fo r t he ir en tir e l en gt h 5– 30 cm lo ng , s m oo th a nd g la br ou s f or th ei r en tir e l en gt h 3– 21 cm lo ng , s m oo th a nd gl ab ro us a lo ng en tir e l en gt h 10 –1 5 cm lo ng , t hi n, g la br ou s 5– 15 cm lo ng , c ul m -in te rn od es di st al ly g la br ou s Sh ea ts o f t ill er le av es Pa py ra ce ou s, sc ab rid o n ba ck , so m et im es m in ut el y so , c om pl et e- ly fu se d, so m et im es d ec ay in g in to fib re s Pa py ra ce ou s, gl ab ro us , c om pl et el y fu se d, so m et im es d ec ay in g in to fib re s Pa py ra ce ou s, gl ab ro us , f us ed fo r en tir e l en gt h, so m et im es d ec ay in g in to fi br es G la br ou s, de ca yi ng in to irr eg ul ar fi br es G la br ou s, irr eg ul ar ly d ec ay in g in to tr an sv er se , u nd ul at e fi br es Li gu la C ili at e a t a pe x W ith a n ec ili at e m em br an e W ith a n ec ili at e m em br an e Sh or tly ci lia te , s ca br id W ith a n ec ili at e m em br an e Pa ni cl e l en gt h (c m ) 2. 4– 4. 5 1. 5– 4. 2 1. 2– 3. 6 3– 4 cm 1. 5– 3. 5 cm Pa ni cl e b ra nc he s G la br ou s, sm oo th , s om et im es fe w sc ab rid ul ou s t ow ar ds ap ex G en er al ly sc ab rid G en er al ly sc ab rid Sc ab rid G en er al ly g la br ou s Sp ik el et 5– 7 m m lo ng , w ith 2 –4 fl ow er s 6. 6– 8. 2 m m lo ng , w ith 4– 5( –6 ) fl ow er s 4. 1– 6. 4 m m lo ng , w ith (2 –) 3– 4( –5 ) fl ow er s. 7– 7. 3 m m lo ng , w ith 3 –4 flo w er s 3– flo w er ed o ne 7 –7 .5 m m , w ith 2– 3( –5 ) fl ow er s Lo w er g lu m e Su bu la te , 2 .5 –2 .8 m m lo ng Su bu la te , 2 .5 – 3. 5 m m lo ng Su bu la te , 1. 8– 3. 3 m m lo ng La nc eo la te La nc eo la te , c . 3 .5 m m lo ng U pp er g lu m e Su bu la te , 3 .2 –3 .5 m m lo ng Su bu la te , 3 .6 –4 .8 m m lo ng Su bu la te , 2 .7 – 4. 1 m m lo ng O bl on g- la nc eo la te , 4 –4 .6 m m lo ng O bl on g- la nc eo la te , 6 –6 .4 m m lo ng Le m m a Su bu la te , 3 .7 –4 .2 m m lo ng , c . 1 m m w id e, gl ab re sc en t t o sc ab rid in th e d ist al p ar t Su bu la te , 4 .3 –5 .7 m m lo ng , 0. 4– 0. 7 m m w id e, sli gh tly sc ab rid in th e d ist al p ar t Su bu la te , 2. 8– 4. 3 m m lo ng , 0 .3 –0 .6 m m w id e La nc eo la te , 4 .5 –5 .2 m m lo ng , 1. 1– 1. 2 m m w id e, sc ab rid in up pe r p ar t. O bl on g- la nc eo la te , 5 .7 –6 .9 m m lo ng , 1 .4 –1 .6 m m w id e, sc ab rid in u pp er p ar t Le m m a aw n le ng th 3. 5– 4. 5 m m 2. 6– 5. 3 m m 1. 2– 2. 6 m m 1, 5– 2 m m (c . 1 /3 × le m m a) To 9 m m , o fte n 2 × le m m a Pa le a 3. 5– 3. 8 m m lo ng , m or e o r l es s fin el y ha ir y al on g its en tir e l en gt h 4. 1– 5. 2 m m lo ng , m or e o r le ss fi ne ly h ai ry a lo ng th e c ar en a. 2. 5– 4. 1 m m lo ng , g la br ou s o r sp ar se ly fin el y ha ir y on th e c ar en a 4. 5– 5. 2 m m lo ng 5. 7– 6. 9 m m lo ng A nt he r l en gt h (m m ) 1. 5– 2 0. 9– 2. 2 0. 6– 1. 4 2. 3– 2. 5 1. 8– 2 Ti lle r l ea f a na to m ic al fe at ur es Tr an sv er se se ct io n of til le r l ea f b la de s M or e o r l es s r ou nd ed , p ol yg on al (n ot cl os ed ), no t V -s ha pe d El lip tic , V -s ha pe d or sl ig ht ly cl os ed po ly go na l V- sh ap ed o r s lig ht ly cl os ed po ly go na l Ir re gu la rly V -s ha pe d, sl ig ht ly cl os ed , p ol yg on al N ea rly ro un de d, n ot cl os ed N um be r o f v as cu la r bu nd le s 5 (3 –) 5 3 to 5 5 5( –7 ) N um be r o f s cl er en - ch ym a st an ds 5– 8 sm al l s cl er en ch ym a st ra nd s, al so w ith 2 v er y sm al l s ub m ar - gi na l a cc es so ry sc le re nc hy m a st ra nd s 3 na rr ow sc le re nc hy m a st ra nd s, so m et im es w ith tw o ot he rs su bm ar gi na l 3 sm al l s cl er en ch ym a st ra nd s, so m et im es w ith tw o ot he rs su bm ar gi na l 7, v er y th in , s ub eq ua l, m ed ia n st ra nd o f o nl y 5– 8 ce lls 3, v er y sm al l N um be r o f r ib s 3 di st in ct a da xi al ri bs , w ith ou t o r w ith 1 –2 m in ut e h ai rs 3 ad ax ia l r ib s o f w hi ch tw o la te ra l rib s a re g en er al ly o nl y sli gh tly de ve lo pe d 3 ad ax ia l r ib s, w ith tw o la te ra l r ib s ge ne ra lly le ss d ev el op ed , w ith fe w ha irs 1 In di st in ct FESTUCA ALBOMONTANA (POACEAE), A NEW SPECIES FROM TURKEY ACTA BOT. CROAT. 81 (1), 2022 65 mouth and weakly decaying into fibres; (2) leaf blades which are usually fine, with 5 veins, l(–3) ribs, and 3–7 sclerenchy- ma strands (Markgraf-Dannenberg 1985) and they resemble species in the F. alpina group in terms of both morphologi- cal and anatomical features. Foggi et al. (2012) indicated that the F. alpina group, which comprises several small spe- cies typically found in exposed (mostly calcareous) rocky habitats in the high mountains of Europe, is characterized by tiller leaf sheaths completely closed or open in their up- per half. The leaf anatomical features of this group and their systematic significance were evaluated by Martínez-Sagarra et al. (2017) and a leaf model was presented for the “F. alpina group” species: The leaves are conduplicate and quite narrow (0.34–0.62 mm) in transverse section. The number of vascular bundles is 3–5 and the sclerenchyma strands are quite thin. The species of this group are also characterized by their small size, flexible leaves, and short panicles with few spikelets (López et al. 2016). Festuca alpina Suter, F.  alfrediana Foggi & Signorini, F. glacialis (Miégev ex Hack.) K. Richt. and F. frigida (Hack.) K. Richt. were included in this group (Foggi et al. 2012, Martínez-Sagarra et al. 2017). In recent years, it has been seen that the species with the morphological and anatomical features mentioned above are grouped under the “F. alpina group” rather than the “Frigida group”. For this reason, the new species described here is evaluated in the F. alpina group and it has a geo- graphically isolated position in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. The other representatives of this group also have a limited distribution area and they are also known from a single location according to the Flora of Turkey. Festuca bushiana and F. sommieri occur in alpine habitats in the Black Sea region, Rize and Trabzon provinces, respectively. The other species, F. cratericola, of this group is endemic to Erciyes Mountain in Central Anatolia. Fig. 2. Festuca albomontana from holotype (C. Aykurt 5525): a – habit, b – panicle, c – upper two florets with anther, d – palea, e – spikelet, f – lemma with awn. AYKURT C., ÇINGAY B., SÜMBÜL H., GÜLBEN M., CABI E., ÖZ Z. 66 ACTA BOT. CROAT. 81 (1), 2022 Here, we compared the new species with morphologi- cally and anatomically similar taxa, i.e., F. sommieri, F. cratericola, F. alpina and F. alfrediana, by using literature information (e.g. Markgraf-Dannenberg 1985, Foggi et al. 2012, POWO 2021). Festuca alpina and F. alfrediana are al- so the two most common species in this group, growing in rocky habitats across the European mountain chains. Ac- cording to Foggi et al. (2012), F. olympica Vetter from Greece and F. pirinica I.Horvat ex Markgr.-Dann. from Bulgaria both have open leaf-sheaths and therefore they do not be- long to the Alpina group. The lemmas with long awns are one of the most remark- able morphological features of F. albomontana, and the new species most resembles F. sommieri and F. alfrediana with respect to this character. However, the leaf anatomical fea- tures of the new species are quite different from both of them. The number of sclerenchyma strands and having 3 distinct ribs on the adaxial side of the leaf cross-section are the most useful diagnostic characters for separation of the new species from its close relatives. Taxonomic treatment Festuca albomontana Aykurt, Çıngay, Sümbül & Cabi sp. nov. (Figs. 2, 3). Type: Turkey: Antalya, Alanya, north of Akdağ (White Mountain), rock crevices near little lake, 2100 m elevation, 36°41́ 22.98´́ N / 32°16́ 47.76́ ´ E, 17.07.2019, C. Aykurt 5525 & H. Sümbül (holotype: AKDU; isotype: AKDU). Diagnosis: Festuca albomontana differs from the related species F. sommieri by its subulate and 2.5–2.8 mm long lower glumes (vs. lanceolate and c. 3.5 mm long), subulate and 3.2–3.5 mm long upper glumes (vs. lanceolate and 6–6.4 mm long), 5–7 sclerenchyma strands (vs. 3), and 3 distinct adaxial ribs (vs. indistinct). Description: More or less densely tufted grass with as- cending vegetative shoots. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 6–14 cm long, smooth, glabrous along entire length. Leaves filiform, smooth, soft, minutely scabrid on margins, acute to obtuse, few scabrid at apex; ligule c. 0.4 mm long, auriculate, ciliate at apex. Tiller leaf sheaths papyraceous, scabrid on back, sometimes minutely so, completely fused, sometimes decaying into fibres; blades 2–8 × 0.03–0.05 cm; transverse section of tiller leaf blades polygonal, not closed, more or less orbicular, slightly angled, with 5 vascular bun- dles, 5–8 small sclerenchyma strands, also with 2 very small submarginal accessory sclerenchyma strands (the median strand is generally slightly larger than the others); with 3 distinct adaxial ribs with a few minute hairs. Culm leaf sheaths glabrous, closed to mouth; blades 1–2.5 × 0.03–0.04 cm. Panicle 2.4–4.5 cm long, with spreading short branch- es; branches glabrous, smooth. Spikelets 5–7 mm long with 2–4 florets; rachilla scabrid. Glumes unequal, subulate, up- per glume distinctly longer than the lower glume, glabrous; lower glumes 2.5–2.8 × 0.5–0.9 mm, 1-veined; upper glumes 3.2–3.5 × 0.9–1.2 mm, 3-veined. Lemmas 3.7–4.2 × c. 1 mm, subulate, glabrescent to scabrid in the distal part; awn 3.5– 4.5 mm long, minutely scabrid. Palea 3.5–3.8 × c. 1 mm, more or less finely hairy along its entire length. Anthers c. 1.5–2 mm long. Ovary glabrous. Caryopsis thin and gla- brous. Phenology: Flowering period starts in July, continues towards end of August. Fruiting period is late August. Etymology: The specific epithet ‘albomontana’ refers to the Ak Mountain where the new species was discovered. “Ak Mountain” in translates as “Alba Montana”. Habitat, ecology and conservation status: Festuca albomontana is a local species endemic to the high moun- tain zone of the Ak Mountain (Alanya, Antalya), inhabiting schistose rock crevices at an elevation of 2100 m. Within this area, the new species is associated with plants such as Eremopoa capillaris R.R. Mill, Poa davisii Bor, Melica persica Kunth subsp. jacquemontii (Decne. at Jacquem.) P.H. Davis, Paracaryum lithospermifolium (Lam.) Grande subsp. cariense (Boiss.) R.R.Mill, var. cariense, Lamium eriocephalum Benth., Stachys citrina Boiss. & Heldr. ex Benth. subsp. citrina, and Galium sorgerae Ehrend. & Schönb.-Tem. The area of occupancy of the species is limited to less than 10 km2, and the total number of mature individuals is approximately 50. Overgrazing by goat herds was noticed near the type locality. Therefore, this new species should be considered as “critically endangered” (CR B2 ab(v); D) ac- cording to the IUCN categories (IUCN, 2019). The identification key for species of the F. alpina group in Turkey 1a. Leaf blades fine, 0.25–0.5(-0.6) mm broad; sclerenchyma strands very slender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1b. Leaf blades stouter, (0.3–)0.4–0.65(–0.8) mm broad; sclerenchyma strands 3, strong . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F. bushiana 2a. Lemma awn c. 1/3 × lemma length . . . . . .F. cratericola 2b. Lemma awn 1–2 × lemma length. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3a. Tiller leaves with 5–8 sclerenchyma strands, also with 2 very small submarginal accessory sclerenchyma strands; adaxial ribs 3, distinct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F. albomontana 3b. Tiller leaves with 3 sclerenchyma strands; adaxial ribs indistinct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F. sommieri Additional specimens examined: F. callieri subsp. callieri: TURKEY. Antalya, Kaş, Akdağ, rocky areas near İkizgöller, 2355 m, 03.07.2020, C. Aykurt 5641 (AKDU). F. callieri subsp. zederbaueri: TURKEY. Antalya, Alanya, Gökbel Plateau, 1700 m, 18.06.2019, C. Aykurt 5248 (AKDU). F. elwendiana: Antalya: İbradı, around Derme Plateau, 1900 m, 24.06.2020, C. Aykurt 5634 (AKDU). F. valesiaca: TURKEY. Antalya: Alanya, Sarıveliler road, 1500 m, 17.06.2019, C. Aykurt 5131b (AKDU). F. pini- folia var. pinifolia: TURKEY. Antalya, Kaş, Akdağ, above İkizgöller, 2450 m, 03.07.2020, C. Aykurt 5649 (AKDU), F. FESTUCA ALBOMONTANA (POACEAE), A NEW SPECIES FROM TURKEY ACTA BOT. CROAT. 81 (1), 2022 67 sipylea: TURKEY. Antalya, Gazipaşa, Taşeli Plateau, above Mihrap Plateau, on rocks, 2015 m, 22.06.2020, C. Aykurt 5602 (ADDU). F. jeanpertii subsp. jeanpertii: TURKEY. Antalya: Elmalı, between Yuva and Seki, stony slopes, 1450 m, C. Aykurt 4813 (AKDU). F. alpina: AUSTRIA. Kärnten: Bezirk Spittal an der Drau, Innerfragant, Wanderweg von der Fraganter Hütte zum Schobertörl, hinter der Eggerhütte, 1900 m, 13 June 2010, C. Gilli, A. Berger (WU0067019). Österreich: Bezirk Liezen, Gemeinde Bad Mitterndorf, Katastralgemeinde Klachau; ca. 7 km ESE Bad Mitterndorf, um den Gipfel des Grimming, 2340 m, K. Zernig, (GJO0035680). F. bushiana: RUSSIA. Caucasus: Stavropol Krai, Karachay-Cherkessia & Kabardino-Balkaria 18 June 1924, A. Shchukina (MW0649040). Krasnodar Krai & Adygea, North Ossetia, 2350 m, 30 June 1971, Khudyakova (MW0649040). Ingushetia and Chechnya, 27 June 1979, V.G. Onipchenko (MW0658393). North Ossetia, Ingushetia & Chechnya, 13 Aug 1981, V. V. Shcherbakov (MW0649045). F. cratericola: TURKEY. Kayseri: Erciyes Mountain, E-Setie, 2900 m, 7 June 1979, Carle, R. & Kurschner, H. (E00407254). Erdschias-dagh, auf feuchten Stellen beim nördlichen Krater, 2900 m., 24 June1924, Markgraf-Dannenberg, I., (W1916- 0007506). F. sommieri: GEORGIA. Tschernomorsky ( Province de la Mer Noire): M. Adzitouko (sources de la Mdzymta [Mzymta]), 2850 m, Markgraf-Dannenberg, I (1973- 04), (W1916-0007510). RUSSIA. Caucasus: Stavropol Krai, Karachay-Cherkessia & Kabardino-Balkaria, 17 June 1994, Onipchenko V. G., (MW0649225). Caucasus boreali-occiden- talis, in valle fl. Urup, mons Bolschaja Azgara, in rupibus subalpinae, 12 June 1971, E. B. Alexeev, (NMNH14809073). TURKEY. Rize: pass from Ikizdere to Ispir, 2600-2900 m, Sorger 82-119-60 (W). Fig. 3. Field photographs of Festuca albomontana from the type location: a – habit, b, c, d – panicle and spikelets. 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