Festuca synonyms

[gbif-portal]

Festuca synonyms

Festuca arenaria Osbeck is now stated as a synonym of Festuca rubra L. Many records of Festuca arenaria Osbeck (at least from the Dutch and Belgian databases) are what should be Festuca juncifolia St.- Amans, and not Festuca rubra (these are listed seperately in the same databases).

I don't seem to be able to figure out what caused this mix-up. I do know that Festuca arenaria is the leading name for the coastal species 'Duinzwenkgras' here, and that Festuca juncifolia is treated as a synonym to that species. That could be what caused the confusion.

Kind regards,
Martijn van Sluijs

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[ManonGros]

I contacted the user to ask for help understanding the issue.

[ManonGros]

Reply:

There are also quite a few different interpretations (in different flora's/countries) of what are species and what are subspecies etc.

What my point mainly comes down to is that Festuca arenaria Osbeck and Festuca rubra L. are considered as separate species in the Netherlands, with Festuca juncifolia Chaub as a synonym of F. arenaria Osbeck. In GBIF, these are all considered synonyms of F. rubra L.. But Festuca juncifolia St.-Amans is considered as a species in GBIF. When I look at the GBIF map, the distribution of Festuca juncifolia St.-Amans suddenly stops at the Dutch coast. It is highly likely that the same plants that are noted as F. juncifolia St.-Amans along the NW-European coast are noted as F. arenaria Osbeck in the Netherlands however, which GBIF redirects to Festuca rubra L., causing a gap in the distribution data of F. juncifolia St.-Amans along the Dutch coast.

I think contacting Leni Duistermaat from Naturalis Leiden (author of the main Dutch flora) could help further with more info and propose a workable solution (if there is one).