Knorring's Larkspur

Knorring’s Larkspur

Status: VU. A rare ornamental relic species with a disjunctive range, endemic to Kyrgyzstan.

Description. Stems 35 - 45 cm tall, hairy and spreading at the base. Leaves with long, more or less hairy petioles, concentrated at the lower part of the stem. Leaf blade palmately divided into 5 obovate lobes, which are cut into 3 lobes at the tip. The stem is once or twice forked at the top, bearing 2-4 flowers on very long pedicels. Bracts are linear, much shorter than the pedicels. The bracteoles are linear, blunt, and hairy. The tepals are broadly elliptic-ovate, weakly pubescent on the outside. The spur is thin, long, cylindrical, more or less hairy, and bifurcated at the end. The nectaries and staminodes are light purple.

Biological features. Flowers in June. Propagation is by seeds.

Distribution both general and in the country. Northern slope of the Atoinok Mountain Range, northern spurs of the Turkestan Range, northern macroslope of the Alai Range.

Habitat. On mountain slopes and rocks in the lower and middle belts of the mountains.

Population. Very rarely encountered.

Limiting factors. Unsystematic grazing with excessive load on pastures. Cultivation. No data available.

Existing conservation measures. Not developed.

Recommended conservation measures. It is necessary to assess the population status within the range.

Knorring бутёёсу

Knorring’s Larkspur
Delphinium knorringianum B. Fedtsch.
Status: VU. This rare ornamental plant is a relic species with a disjunctive area, endemic to Kyrgyzstan, where it was found on the northern macroslope of the Atoinok Mountain Range and in the northern spurs of the Turkestan and Alai Mountains. The species populates rocks and steep slopes in the low- and mid-montane belt. The population in nature is limited, with the smallest populations observed. The flowering period is June; propagation is generative (by seeds); data about cultivation are absent. Limiting factors include disorderly excessive pasturage in habitats. There are no elaborated methods for the species protection, but it is recommended to continue additional search and study of natural populations.