Studies in Festuca. II. Fertility relationships between species of sections bovinae and scariosae,and their affinities with Lolium

Crossability anf F₁ hybrid fertility were studied using chromosome races (species or infra-specific taxa) representative of broad-leaved fescues in sections bovinae and scariosae. Hybrids were also obtained with Lolium multiflorum. The hybridization results, when considered in relation to morphology, cytology, and geographical distribution, support the idea that the Moroccan fescues studied here are more closely related amongst themselves, than to taxa from outside this region. These findings are discussed in relation to the evolution of the polyploids.