Related Tulip
Status: VU. Endemic species of the northern Pamir-Alai. The species is at risk of complete extinction.
Description. The bulb is quite large, up to 4 cm in diameter; oval-shaped. The outer scales are dark brown, leathery, often elongated, covered inside with sparse, long golden hairs. The stem reaches up to 30 cm in height, fluffy at the top. Leaves 3-4, up to 25 cm long, broad-lanceolate, bluish-green, spaced apart, pubescent on top, with white cartilaginous, fringed edges. The flower is solitary, quite large. Its original shape distinguishes it from other tulips. The outer tepals are elongated, with a sharp hairy tip, red inside, dark raspberry in the center, with a black spot at the base; brightly bordered with narrow yellow. The inner tepals are drawn out into a fluffy tip at the top, with a smoky purple spot at the base on a yellow-green background outside, raspberry-red inside with a black spot at the base, and with a narrow bright yellow border. The stamens are three times shorter than the tepals, the filament is black, narrowly flat-triangular; the anthers are black-purple. The ovary is purple, long, creamy-green at the top. The stigma is creamy. The capsule is elongated at the top.
Biological features. It reproduces by seeds.
Distribution general and in the country. The Nuratau Ridge and the northern macro-slope of the Turkestan Ridge (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan). In Kyrgyzstan - the Turkestan Ridge in the Ak-Suu River basin (Tue-Djailoo locality), mountains east of Sulyukta.
Habitat. On rocky, sandy soils among juniper forests.
Population. No surveys have been conducted.
Limiting factors. Human economic activity, as well as flower collection and bulb digging.
Cultivation. In cultivation in Bishkek, it is insufficiently studied and quickly disappears from plantings.
Existing conservation measures. Included in the Red Books of the Uzbek SSR (1984) and the Kyrgyz SSR (1985).
Recommended conservation measures. Organize botanical reserves in areas with the highest concentration of the species. Establish monitoring of population status in different areas of the range. Prohibit the collection, sale of flowers, and digging of bulbs.
Окшош мандалак
Similar Tulip
Tulipa affinis Z. Botsch.
Status: VU. This critically endangered species is endemic to North Alai-Pamirs; populations occur in Nuratau (Uzbekistan) and Turkestan Mountain Ranges (Tue-Djailoo locality in the Ak-Suu River basin and northern spur near Sulyukta). It populates metal and stony soils in juniper forests. Period of flowering: April - May, reproduction is generative (by seeds). This species is insufficiently studied in culture (in Bishkek cultivation is difficult). Limiting factors: economic development of virgin lands (overgrazing) and massive collection of flowers and bulbs by people. Complete prohibition of flower and bulb collection/trade, monitoring, and creation of special protected areas in the localities with concentrated population are urgently necessary to stave off the danger of species extinction.
