Iskandera Alai
Status: VU. A very rare narrow endemic species. There is only one species of this genus in the republic.
Description. Perennial plant with woody branched multi-headed caudices covered with remnants of old leaves, with leafless, bare stems up to 20(50) cm in height. The entire plant is grayish due to a dense covering of small pressed branched hairs and scattered large glandular heads. Fruiting stems are somewhat thick, bare, 8 - 11 cm in height. The basal leaves are gray-green, entire, elongated reverse-ovate. The perianth is purple-colored. Petals are 20 - 25 mm long, purple. The pods are broad-linear up to 6 cm long, 5-8 mm wide, flattened, with a fleshy stigma at the top. The pods lack woolly pubescence on their stalks.
Biological features. Blooms in June; fruits in July. Propagation is by seeds.
General distribution and in the country. Kyrgyzstan: Alai Valley, slopes of Kyzyl-Eshme, basin of the Kashka-Suu River.
Habitat. Clayey-limestone deposits in the mid and upper mountain belts. Population. Very insignificant.
Limiting factors. Unsystematic livestock grazing and excessive load on pastures hinder the regeneration of plants.
Cultivation. No information available.
Existing conservation measures. Included in the Red Book of the Kyrgyz SSR (1985).
Recommended conservation measures. Organize a botanical reserve in the basin of the Kashka-Suu River, in the area of the highest concentration of the species' populations.
Alai Iskandera
Alai Iskandera
Iskandera alaica (Korsch.) Botsch. et Vved. (Matthiola albicaulis Boiss. var. alaica Korsh.)
Status: VU. This rarest relic endemic of Alai Valley is still known from 2-3 sites at the southern slope of Alai Mountains (Kyzyl-Eshme, Kashka-Suu Ravines) and from the basin of Altyn-Dara River (northern slope of Trans-Alai Mountain Range), and is the only representative of the genus in the country. Single plants are found on clayey and lime steep slopes with scanty vegetation, in mid- and high-montane belts. It flowers in June, fruits in July; propagation is generative (by seeds). Data about cultivation are unknown. Limiting factors: unordered cattle pasturage which obstructs reproduction in natural populations of the Iskandera. The species is included in the Red Book of the Republic in 1985. The creation of a botanical wildlife area (e.g., in the Kashka-Suu River basin) is proposed for the protection of the species.
