Blue-headed Saxifrage \ Kök bashchaluu seseli \ Seaholly-like Meadow Saxifrage

Seaholly-like Meadow Saxifrage

Status: VU. Endemic. One of 16 species found in Kyrgyzstan.

Description. Perennial monocarpic plant with a solid stem-root and taproot. The stem is solitary, densely covered at the base with remnants of dead leaves, almost branching in a brush-like manner from the base. The basal leaves are numerous, gathered in a rosette, oval in shape, and pinnately dissected; stem leaves are gradually simplified, on short triangular sheaths; the upper ones are in the form of entire or serrated linear blades. The umbels have 50-60 flowers consisting of 15-18 narrow linear entire herbaceous leaflets; the umbellules have 50-60 flowers with bracts made up of 15-17 ovate-lanceolate leaflets. The petals are white, slightly notched. The fruits are slightly compressed from the sides, and are oblong-lanceolate.

Biological features. Flowers in July, fruits in August-September.

General distribution and in the country. Chatkal Ridge: Bozbu-Too Mountains, Itagar Valley, Ak-Sai locality, Kur-Aryk locality.

Habitat. Crevices of limestone rocks.

Population. Isolated populations.

Limiting factors. The reasons are unclear.

Cultivation. Information is lacking.

Existing conservation measures. Grows in Besh-Aral Nature Reserve.

Recommended conservation measures. It is necessary to clarify the stocks and ensure the protection of habitats.

Seaholly-like Meadow Saxifrage
Seseli eryngioides (Korovin) M. Pimen. et V. N. T^hom
Status: VU. The species is a local endemic of Kyrgyzstan, one of sixteen congeners in the flora of the country. It is known from several sites in the Chatkal Mountain Range (Bozbu-Too Mountains, Itagar Ravine, Ak-Sai and Kur-Aryk localities). The plants populate clefts in limestone rocks, and the populations are not numerous. The flowering period is in July, with fruiting occurring in August - September. The limiting factors are unstudied, and information about cultivation is absent. Part of the known population inhabits protected areas in the Besh-Aral Nature Reserve. Monitoring and study of the abundance of this species, as well as protection for other areas of occupancy, are recommended.