International Biological Flora: Festuca dolichophylla^†

Abstract

This account provides information on all aspects of the biology of Festuca dolichophylla J. Presl (Chilliwa, Chilligua) that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the International Biological Flora including distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic and environmental factors, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history, conservation and global heterogeneity. Festuca dolichophylla is a tall perennial tussock grass that thrives at high elevations. It is native and widely distributed along the Andes of South America. It also occurs in North and Central America, especially in Mexico and Costa Rica. Festuca dolichophylla plays a significant role in Andean ecosystems and communities of Ecuador, Perú, Bolivia and northern Argentina. It serves various purposes, primarily as food source for South American camelids such as llama and alpaca. Festuca dolichophylla is dominant in Altiplano (Andean high plains) grasslands and is also present in Bofedales (Andean peatlands), shrublands and possibly in Ecuador and Colombia paramos. Festuca dolichophylla reproduces through seeds and vegetative tillers. Flowering tillers bear panicles with multiple spikelets and florets. An ungrazed plant can produce as much as 15.6 g of seeds during May and June, and seeds can germinate in 7 days or more. Festuca dolichophylla exhibits physiological and ecological traits that enable it to thrive in harsh environmental conditions, including extreme temperatures, drought and nutrient‐poor soils. It thrives in a range of soil types from strongly acid to slightly alkaline, encompassing textures that include loamy, sandy clay loam, clay loam and clay, and which are influenced by the cold and semiarid Andean climate. Fertilizers with different NPK formulations enhance fresh aerial biomass, plant height and volume. Additionally, F. dolichophylla forms mycorrhizal associations, stores large amounts of fixed carbon in its stems, and bioaccumulates mercury, lead and arsenic. Despite its importance, Festuca dolichophylla remains poorly studied. Further research is needed to explore its ecology, breeding systems, diseases or ecotypes. Moreover, population and demographic studies are crucial to assess the impact of climate change on this species. Adaptive, strategic and organized management and conservation efforts are essential, particularly in Indigenous Andean settlements, where F. dolichophylla offers multiple applications and benefits. Furthermore, utilizing this species in grassland revegetation and restoration initiatives highlights the need for ongoing research and management endeavours to ensure its conservation and sustainable use.