Identification and classification of numerous Festucaspecies is still a difficult problem due to the close morphological resemblance. The most difficult fine fescues to identify belong to the Festucaovinaaggregate, which is the largest group in the genus Festuca. Many taxons are considered to be separate species based on quantitative taxonomic characters, differences in ploidy level or the structure of sclerenchyma cells. In order to evaluate the taxonomic value of DNA-based markers, sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) region and the chloroplast trnL (UAA) intron was performed in the ten most problematic fine fescues belonging to the Festuca ovinaaggregate. Intraspecific ITS variants were found in a single case while in other cases only intragenomic ITS polymorphisms were detected with 1-2 ambiguous positions. Among the sequences of the trnL (UAA) intron even intragenomic polymorphisms were not detected in any of the Festucaspecies studied. Thus, the results do not support the species status of these ten taxa.
Schwarzová, T. (1967) Beitrag zur Lösung taxonomischer Probleme der Festuca vaginata W. et K. und F. psammophila Hack. Acta Fac. Rerum Nat. Univ. Comenianae Bot. 14, 381-414.
'Beitrag zur Lösung taxonomischer Probleme der Festuca vaginata W. et K. und F. psammophila Hack ' () 14 Acta Fac. Rerum Nat. Univ. Comenianae Bot. : 381 -414 .
Šmarda, P., Kočí, K. (2003) Chromosome number variability in central European members of the Festuca ovina and F. pallens groups (sect. Festuca). Folia Geobot. 38, 65-95.
'Chromosome number variability in central European members of the Festuca ovina and F. pallens groups (sect. Festuca) ' () 38 Folia Geobot. : 65 -95 .
Simon, T. (2000) A magyarországi edényes flóra határozója (Field Guide to the Hungarian Vascular Flora). Tankönyvkiadó, Budapest, p. 976.
A magyarországi edényes flóra határozója (Field Guide to the Hungarian Vascular Flora) , () 976 .
Hsiao, C., Chatterton, N. J., Asay, K. H., Jensen, K. B. (1994) Phylogenetic relationships of 10 grass species: an assessment of phylogenetic utility of the internal transcribed spacer region in nuclear ribosomal DNA in monocots. Genome 37, 112-120.
'Phylogenetic relationships of 10 grass species: an assessment of phylogenetic utility of the internal transcribed spacer region in nuclear ribosomal DNA in monocots ' () 37 Genome : 112 -120 .
Hsiao, C., Chatterton, N. J., Asay, K. H., Jensen, K. B. (1995a) Phylogenetic relationships of the monogenomic species of the wheat tribe, Triticeae (Poaceae), inferred from nuclear rDNA (internal transcribed spacer) sequences. Genome 38, 211-223.
') Phylogenetic relationships of the monogenomic species of the wheat tribe, Triticeae (Poaceae), inferred from nuclear rDNA (internal transcribed spacer) sequences ' () 38 Genome : 211 -223 .
Hsiao, C., Chatterton, N. J., Asay, K. H., Jensen, K. B. (1995b) Molecular phylogeny of the Pooideae (Poaceae) based on nuclear rDNA (ITS) sequences. Theor. Appl. Genet. 90, 389-398.
') Molecular phylogeny of the Pooideae (Poaceae) based on nuclear rDNA (ITS) sequences ' () 90 Theor. Appl. Genet. : 389 -398 .
Hubbard, C. E. (1954) Grasses: A Guide to the Structure, Identification, Uses and Distribution in the British Isles. Penguin Books, Harmondsworth, p. 428.
Grasses: A Guide to the Structure, Identification, Uses and Distribution in the British Isles , () 428 .
Lehvaslaiho, H., Saura, A., Lokki, J. (1987) Chloroplast DNA variation in the grass tribe Festuceae. Theor. Appl. Genet. 74, 298-302.
'Chloroplast DNA variation in the grass tribe Festuceae ' () 74 Theor. Appl. Genet. : 298 -302 .
Darbshyre, S. J., Warwick, S. I. (1992) Phylogeny of North American Festuca (Poaceae) and related genera using chloroplast DNA restriction site variation. Can. J. Bot. 70, 2415-2429.
'Phylogeny of North American Festuca (Poaceae) and related genera using chloroplast DNA restriction site variation ' () 70 Can. J. Bot. : 2415 -2429 .
Dellaporta, S. L., Wood, J., Hicks, J. B. (1983) A plant DNA minipreparation: Version II. Plant Mol. Biol. Rep. 1, 19-21.
'A plant DNA minipreparation: Version II ' () 1 Plant Mol. Biol. Rep. : 19 -21 .
Dolezel, J., Lucretti, S., Schubert, J. (1994) Plant chromosome analysis and sorting by flow cytometry. Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 13, 275-309.
'Plant chromosome analysis and sorting by flow cytometry ' () 13 Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. : 275 -309 .
Vetter, J. (1915) Neue Festuca Hybriden. Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 65, 146-168.
'Neue Festuca Hybriden ' () 65 Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien : 146 -168 .
Horánszky, A. (1992) A Festuca nemzetség. In: T. Simon (ed.) A magyarországi edényes flóra határozója (Field Guide to the Hungarian Vascular Flora). Tankönyvkiadó, Budapest, pp. 736-741.
A magyarországi edényes flóra határozója (Field Guide to the Hungarian Vascular Flora) , () 736 -741 .
Horánszky, A. (2000) Festuca. In: T. Simon (ed.) A magyarországi edényes flóra határozója (Field Guide to the Hungarian Vascular Flora). Tankönyvkiadó, Budapest, pp. 768-773.
A magyarországi edényes flóra határozója (Field Guide to the Hungarian Vascular Flora) , () 768 -773 .
Howarth, W. D. (1948) A synopsis of the British Fescues. Bot. Soc. Exch. Cl. Brit. Isles. 13, 338-346.
'A synopsis of the British Fescues ' () 13 Bot. Soc. Exch. Cl. Brit. Isles. : 338 -346 .
Penksza, K. (2000) Die Koerrektur der histologischen Beschreibung von Festuca javorkae von Májovszky im Jahre 1962, und Angaben zum Vorkommnis der Art in Ungarn. Ber. Inst. Landschafts-Pflanzenökologie Univ. Hohenheim 10, 49-54.
'Die Koerrektur der histologischen Beschreibung von Festuca javorkae von Májovszky im Jahre 1962, und Angaben zum Vorkommnis der Art in Ungarn ' () 10 Ber. Inst. Landschafts-Pflanzenökologie Univ. Hohenheim : 49 -54 .
Pils, G. (1984) Systematik, Karyologie und Verbreitung der Festuca valesiaca-gruppe (Poaceae) in Österreich und Südtirol. Phyton 24, 35-77.
'Systematik, Karyologie und Verbreitung der Festuca valesiaca-gruppe (Poaceae) in Österreich und Südtirol ' () 24 Phyton : 35 -77 .
Saint-Yves, A. (1928) Contribution a l'étude des Festuca (subgen. Eu-Festuca) de l'Orient. Candollea 3, 321-466.
'Contribution a l'étude des Festuca (subgen. Eu-Festuca) de l'Orient ' () 3 Candollea : 321 -466 .
Soó, R. (1955) Festuca Studien. Acta Bot. Acad. Sci. Hung. 2, 187-221.
'Festuca Studien ' () 2 Acta Bot. Acad. Sci. Hung. : 187 -221 .
Soó, R. (1973) Zeitgemässe Taxonomie der Festuca ovina-gruppe. Acta Bot. Acad. Sci. Hung. 18, 363-377.
'Zeitgemässe Taxonomie der Festuca ovina-gruppe ' () 18 Acta Bot. Acad. Sci. Hung. : 363 -377 .
Watson, L., Dallwitz, M. J. (1992) The Grass Genera of the World. C.A.B. International, Wallingford, Oxon, p. 1038.
The Grass Genera of the World , () 1038 .
Stammers, M., Harris, J., Evans, G. M., Hayward, M. D., Forster, J. W. (1995) Use of random PCR (RAPD) technology to analyse phylogenetic relationships in the Lolium/Festuca complex. Heredity 74, 19-27.
'Use of random PCR (RAPD) technology to analyse phylogenetic relationships in the Lolium/Festuca complex ' () 74 Heredity : 19 -27 .
Stohr, G. (1960) Gliderung der Festuca ovina-Gruppei in Mitteldeutschland unter Einschlusseiniger benachbarter Formen. Wiss. Z. Univ. Halle, Math.-Nat. 9, 393-414.
'Gliderung der Festuca ovina-Gruppei in Mitteldeutschland unter Einschlusseiniger benachbarter Formen ' () 9 Wiss. Z. Univ. Halle, Math.-Nat. : 393 -414 .
Stohr, G. (2002) Festuca. In: W. Rothmaler, E. J. Jäger, K. Werner (eds) Exkursionsflora von Deutschland 4. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg, Berlin, pp. 844-852.
Exkursionsflora von Deutschland 4 , () 844 -852 .
Vetter, J. (1917) Neue Festuca Hybriden, neue Standorte. Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 66, 123-133.
'Neue Festuca Hybriden, neue Standorte ' () 66 Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien : 123 -133 .
Taberlet, P., Gielly, L., Pautou, G., Bouvet, J. (1991) Universal primers for amplification of three noncoding regions of chloroplast DNA. Plant Mol. Biol. 17, 1105-1109.
'Universal primers for amplification of three noncoding regions of chloroplast DNA ' () 17 Plant Mol. Biol. : 1105 -1109 .
Torrecilla, P., Catalán, P. (2002) Phylogeny of broad-leaved and fine-leaved Festuca lineages (Poaceae) based on nuclear ITS sequences. Syst. Bot. 27, 241-251.
'Phylogeny of broad-leaved and fine-leaved Festuca lineages (Poaceae) based on nuclear ITS sequences ' () 27 Syst. Bot. : 241 -251 .
Torrecilla, P., López Rodríguez, J. A., Stancik, D., Catalán, P. (2003) Systematics of Festuca L. sects. Eskia Willk., Pseudotropis Kriv., Aphigenes (Janka) Tzvel., Pseudoscariosa Kriv., and Scariosae Hack. based on analysis of morphological characters and DNA sequences. Plant Syst. Evol. 239, 113-139.
'Systematics of Festuca L. sects. Eskia Willk., Pseudotropis Kriv., Aphigenes (Janka) Tzvel., Pseudoscariosa Kriv., and Scariosae Hack. based on analysis of morphological characters and DNA sequences ' () 239 Plant Syst. Evol. : 113 -139 .
Tredway, L. P., White, J. F., Clarke, B. B. (1999) Ribosomal DNA sequences as a tool for identification of fine fescue selections. Unpublished, NCBI GenBank Acc. Nos. AF147135-AF147180.
Tzvelev, N. N. (1971) On the taxonomy and phylogeny of the genus Festuca L. of the USSR flora. 1. The system of the genus and the main trends of evolution. Bot. Zhur. 56, 1252-1262.
'On the taxonomy and phylogeny of the genus Festuca L. of the USSR flora. 1. The system of the genus and the main trends of evolution ' () 56 Bot. Zhur. : 1252 -1262 .
Wilkinson, M. J., Stace, C. A. (1991) A new taxonomic treatment of the Festuca ovina L. aggregate (Poaceae) in the British Isles. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 106, 347-397.
'A new taxonomic treatment of the Festuca ovina L. aggregate (Poaceae) in the British Isles ' () 106 Bot. J. Linn. Soc. : 347 -397 .
Xu, W. W., Sleper, D. A. (1994) Phylogeny of tall fescue and related species using RFLPs. Theor. Appl. Genet. 88, 685-690.
'Phylogeny of tall fescue and related species using RFLPs ' () 88 Theor. Appl. Genet. : 685 -690 .
Baldwin, B. G., Sanderson, M. J., Porter, J. M., Wojciechowski, M. F., Campbell, C. S., Donoghue, M. J. (1995) The ITS region of nuclear ribosomal DNA: a valuable source of evidence on angiosperm phylogeny. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 82, 247-277.
'The ITS region of nuclear ribosomal DNA: a valuable source of evidence on angiosperm phylogeny ' () 82 Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. : 247 -277 .
Beldie, A. I. (1972) Festuca L. In: A. Nyárády et al. (eds) Flora Reip. Soc. Romania XII. Edit. Acad. Reipub. Social. Romania, pp. 459-559 and 790-791.
Flora Reip. Soc. Romania XII. Edit. Acad. Reipub. Social. Romania , () 459 -559 .
Catalan, P., Torrecilla, P., Rodriguez, J. A. L., Olmstead, R. G. (2004) Phylogeny of the festucoid grasses of subtribe Loliinae and allies (Poeae, Pooideae) inferred from ITS and trnL-F sequences. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 31, 517-541.
'Phylogeny of the festucoid grasses of subtribe Loliinae and allies (Poeae, Pooideae) inferred from ITS and trnL-F sequences ' () 31 Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. : 517 -541 .
Charmet, G., Balfourier, F. (1994) Isozyme variation and species relationships in the genus Lolium L. (ryegrasses, Graminaceae). Theor. Appl. Genet. 87, 641-649.
'Isozyme variation and species relationships in the genus Lolium L. (ryegrasses, Graminaceae) ' () 87 Theor. Appl. Genet. : 641 -649 .
Charmet, G., Ravel, C., Balfourier, F. (1997) Phylogenetic analysis in the Festuca-Lolium complex using molecular markers and ITS rDNA. Theor. Appl. Genet. 94, 1038-1046.
'Phylogenetic analysis in the Festuca-Lolium complex using molecular markers and ITS rDNA ' () 94 Theor. Appl. Genet. : 1038 -1046 .
Clayton, W. D., Renvoize, S. A. (1986) Genera Graminum: Grasses of the World. Kew Bulletin Additional Series 13, 1-389.
'Genera Graminum: Grasses of the World ' () 13 Kew Bulletin Additional Series : 1 -389 .
Gaut, B. S., Tredway, L. P., Kubik, C., Gaut, R. L., Meyer, W. (2000) Phylogenetic relationships and genetic diversity among members of the Festuca-Lolium complex (Poaceae) based on ITS sequence data. Plant Syst. Evol. 224, 33-53.
'Phylogenetic relationships and genetic diversity among members of the Festuca-Lolium complex (Poaceae) based on ITS sequence data ' () 224 Plant Syst. Evol. : 33 -53 .
Hackel, E. (1882) Monographia Festucarum Europaearum. Theodor Fischer, Kassel, Berlin.
Monographia Festucarum Europaearum , ().
Horánszky, A., Jankó, B., Vida, G. (1971) Zur Biosystematik der Festuca ovina - Gruppe in Ungarn. Ann. Univ. Sci. Budapest, Sect. Biol. 13, 95-101.
'Zur Biosystematik der Festuca ovina - Gruppe in Ungarn ' () 13 Ann. Univ. Sci. Budapest, Sect. Biol. : 95 -101 .
Englmaier, P. (1994) Festuca. In: W. Adler, K. Oswald, R. Fischer (eds) Exkursionflora von Österreich. Ulmer, Stuttgart, Wien, pp. 993-1005.
Ulmer, Stuttgart, Wien , () 993 -1005 .
Markgraf-Dannenberg, I. (1980) Festuca. In: T. G. Tutin, V. H. Heywood, N. A. Burges, D. M. Moore, D. H. Valentine, S. M. Walters, D. A. Webb (eds) Flora Europaea, Vol. 5. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 125-153.
Flora Europaea , () 125 -153 .
Májovský, J. (1962) Adnotationes ad species gen. - Festuca florae Slovakiae additamentum I. Acta Fac. Rerum Nat. Univ. Comenianae Bot. 7, 317-335.
'Adnotationes ad species gen. - Festuca florae Slovakiae additamentum I ' () 7 Acta Fac. Rerum Nat. Univ. Comenianae Bot. : 317 -335 .
Nyárády, E. I., Nyárády, A. (1964) Studie üiber die Arten der Sektion Ovinae Fr. der Gattung Festuca in der RVR. Rev. Roumaine Biol. Sér. Botan. 9, 99-172.
'Studie üiber die Arten der Sektion Ovinae Fr. der Gattung Festuca in der RVR ' () 9 Rev. Roumaine Biol. Sér. Botan. : 99 -172 .
Baldwin, B. G. (1992) Phylogenetic utility of the internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA in plants: an example from the Compositae. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 1, 3-16.
'Phylogenetic utility of the internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA in plants: an example from the Compositae ' () 1 Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. : 3 -16 .
Patzke, E. (1961) Vorschlag zur Gliederung Festuca ovina L. Gruppe in Mitteleuropa. Öst. Bot. Zeitschr. 108, 505-507.
'Vorschlag zur Gliederung Festuca ovina L. Gruppe in Mitteleuropa ' () 108 Öst. Bot. Zeitschr. : 505 -507 .
Alexeev, E. B. (1978) To the systematics of Asian fescues (Festuca). 2. Subgenus Festuca. Bjull. Moskovsk. Obsc. Isp. Prir., Otd. Biol. 83, 109-122.
'To the systematics of Asian fescues (Festuca). 2. Subgenus Festuca ' () 83 Bjull. Moskovsk. Obsc. Isp. Prir., Otd. Biol. : 109 -122 .
Alexeev, E. B. (1973) Les fetuques du groupe Intravaginales Hack. de la section Festuca (Ovinae Fr.) dans le Causacae. Bjull. Moskovsk. Obsc. Isp. Prir., Otd. Biol. 78, 94-110.
'Les fetuques du groupe Intravaginales Hack. de la section Festuca (Ovinae Fr.) dans le Causacae ' () 78 Bjull. Moskovsk. Obsc. Isp. Prir., Otd. Biol. : 94 -110 .
Patzke, E. (1968) Zur Kenntnis der Sammelart Festuca ovina L. im südlichen Niedersachsen. Götting. Flor. Rundbr. 4, 14-17.
'Zur Kenntnis der Sammelart Festuca ovina L. im südlichen Niedersachsen ' () 4 Götting. Flor. Rundbr. : 14 -17 .
Bulinska-Radomska, Z., Lester, N. (1988) Intergeneric relationships of Lolium, Festuca, and Vulpia (Poaceae) and their phylogeny. Plant Syst. Evol. 159, 217-227.
'Intergeneric relationships of Lolium, Festuca, and Vulpia (Poaceae) and their phylogeny ' () 159 Plant Syst. Evol. : 217 -227 .