Kaufmann’s Tulip
Status: VU. An endemic species of the Western Tien Shan. Highly decorative: the most beautiful, early-flowering tulip of Kyrgyzstan. Characterized by high intraspecific variability. Widely used in breeding.
Description. Perennial herbaceous bulbous plant. The bulb is oval, 1.5 - 4.0 cm thick, with leathery dark brown tunics, with a densely hairy inner surface. Plant height is 10 - 40 cm. The stem has a slight pubescence, often with a purple hue. Leaves number 2 - 5, often spaced, glaucous, glabrous. The flower is solitary, large, up to 8 cm long, cream or white, although plants with yellow, orange, fiery, light red, brick red, and nearly burgundy flowers are also found. The outer tepals are lanceolate, sometimes elliptical; at the base with a yellow spot. The inner tepals are widely dirty purple on the back, slightly longer than the inner ones. It exhibits wide polymorphism. The capsule is up to 2 cm in diameter, 3-6 cm long. Seeds are light brown, large (1.3-0.8 cm), rounded-triangular.
Biological features. Blooms from late March to June, fruits from May to August, depending on growing conditions. Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively (formation of daughter bulbs).
Distribution general and in the country. Western Tien Shan: Chatkal Range.
Habitat. Stony slopes of foothills up to the middle belt of the mountains.
Population. Found in limited areas, may quickly disappear. The number of individuals in communities is up to 10 individuals per m2.
Limiting factors. Mass collection of flowers, unregulated grazing of livestock.
Cultivation. Not demanding in culture. Introduced in botanical gardens of the CIS countries since the late 19th century.
Existing conservation measures. Included in the Red Data Books of the Kazakh SSR (1981), USSR (1984), Uzbek SSR (1984), and Kyrgyz SSR (1985). Protected in the Besh-Aral Nature Reserve.
Recommended conservation measures. Strengthen protection measures, organize monitoring of population status in different areas of the range. Prohibit the collection and sale of flowers, digging up bulbs. Establish reserves in areas of high concentration and polymorphism of the species.
Kaufmann’s Tulip
Tulipa kaufmanniana Regel
Status: VU. It is a rare endemic species of the West Tien Shan, distributed in small areas in the Chatkal River valley. This ornamental plant of high value for selection is easily introduced into culture and has wide intraspecific variability. It populates stony slopes in piedmonts and mid-montane belts. The number is 10 generative counted individuals per m2. Period of flowering: end of April - beginning of June; fruiting in May - August, depending on the elevation; reproduction is both vegetative (with daughter bulbs) and generative (by seeds). Limiting factors: excessive pasturage and collecting of flowers. Necessary conservation measures include: prohibition of development of virgin lands, prohibition of collection/trade of flowers and bulbs, limitation of pasturage during the vegetation period, as well as creation of small protected territories and monitoring in different sites and habitats.
