Kaszab Zoltán (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 66. (Budapest 1974)
Ujhelyi, J.: Data to the systematics of the sections Bulbosae and Caespitosae of the genus Koeleria, XII.
seriate, cells narrow, their walls strongly sinuous, zone medially mostly with one row of stomatal cells; especially near costal zone parenchymatous cells regularly alternating with primordia of small macrohairs, in middle of zone also bigger macrohairs present (causing the blade its sparse, minute, erect hirsuteness) (Plate IV Figs. 2—3). Stomatal cells 37 p. A gracile plant, of identical dimensions with the diploid grade Koeleria species. Densely cespitose, innovation partly intravaginal, partly extravaginal, frequently developing also 5 cm long stolos, these latter 2 mm thick, lignifying, whitish ; vetust vaginae whole, pale yellowish, often lacerated into narrow, white ribbons. (This latter phenomenon, regarded by DOMLN as a primary taxonomic feature, is the result of the decaying activity of fungoid mycelia, as I have frequently observed it in my experimental garden both in Sesleria specimens. On the vetust vaginae of Koeleria alpigena DOM. even the conidia are retained). Vaginae 2—7 em long, pallid. Stature 37 cm. Senile blades 4 cm long and 1,5 mm wide, flat or weakly convolute, cinereous, minutely and sericeously pubescent or sublabrous. Ligulae very short, dentate or bicarinate, 0,8 mm long, marginally ciliolate, greynish, glabrescent or minutely pilose, auriculate, their vaginae long, glabrescent, basally ciliate. Ligulae rounded, 0,8 mm long. Culm foliaceous up to its twothirds, blades 3— G cm long, 0,7—1 mm wide, gradually attenuating acute, apically invariably convolute, glabrous, occasionally scabriusculous, auriculate, vaginae attaining 9 cm in length, basally shortly pubescent, above glabriusculous or glabrous. Ligulae longer reaching 1,5 mm in length, marginally crenate. Culm about 28 cm long and 1 mm wide, glabrous. Panicle attaining 10 cm in length and 1 cm in depth, interrupted, more loosely carinate, elongate cylindrical, pale yellowish, subnitid and also sericeous. Spiculae small, 3,5—4 mm long, some even 4,5 mm, slender, 1,5 mm wide, biflorous, very minutely pubescent, Glumae unequal, lower ones 3,5 mm long, acute, lanceolate, upper ones 4 mm long, more obtusely pointed, occasionally terminating in a gradually attenuating apex, finely puberulous. Paleae 3,5 mm long, bicarinate, hyaline, acute. Antherae 2 mm long. As I have already mentioned in the critic of the substribe Fatiscentes, there are widely different taxonomic evaluations of the plant, caused principally by DOMIN'S erroneous interpretation. At the turn of the century, the "hybrid explanation", based on pure speculations of even herbarial specimens was widely spread; it appeared in its classic form in the present case. DOMIN explained his new species as hybrid of "Koeleria vallesiana and Koeleria gracilis", with the remark that it ispossibly a constant plant reproducing by seeds. Accordingly, the plant was taxonomically degraded. It must be known that we have to deal with the hexaploid plant in Vallisia, whereas Koeleria gracilis can only be the diploid Koeleria cristata (L.) PERS. em. BORB. in Vallisia. Its is genetically unimaginable that a diploid grade plant should originate from the crossing of the two. The plant reveals, both in anatomical characters and morphological habit, features related to those of the Series Albescentes, what with its recumbent rhizome, grey and sericeous leaves, vaginae, convolute narrow blades, and even the interrupted panicle and its lobate shape. Koeleria albescens DC. had not reached the Alps, but, just as Koeleria vallesiana (HONCK.) BERTOL. had reached it, another relict of Vallisia, Koeleria alpigena DOM., might just as well have existed. The argument that it escaped the attention of the collectors does not hold (HEGI 1935). I found some species in Hungary which exist is small populations in a single site, e. g. Koeleria besserii UJH. in 1973, on a clearing of a small oakwood in the immediate vicinity of Bátorliget, a nature conservation area extremely rich in glacial relicts in NE-Hungary, after a collection
