Festuca ankarica (Poeae, Poaceae), a new species from Türkiye)

Some interesting Festuca (Poaceae) specimens with intravaginal and extravaginal vegetative shoots were collected from Ayaş District (Ankara Province, Türkiye). As a result of comprehensive review, it was determined that the specimens were similar F. sclerophylla known from Russia, Iran, and Türkiye, but different from this. Taking into account the differences detected, the specimens were presented to the scientific world as a new species and was named Festuca ankarica. The fact that the culms with extravaginal and intravaginal shoots (not with only extravaginal shoots), leaf sheaths closed to mount and glabrous (not open to mount and scabrous), ligule 5-7 mm long (not 2-4 mm long), leaf blade 12-22 cm long (not 45-60 cm long), upper glumes 1.8-2.2 mm wide (not 2.5-3 mm wide), lemma 1.3-1.8 mm wide (not 3-3.5 mm wide), anthers 5-6 mm long (not 4-4.5 mm long) are the most apparent attributes that separate Festuca ankarica from F. sclerophylla, that are a close taxon. Here is a detailed description of the new species, with illustrative photographs and some general ecological preferences.