Anomalous Alajja (Erianthera anomala)
Status: VU. Endemic to the mountains of Central Asia. A rare species found exclusively in high altitudes.
Description. Perennial, rhizomatous, grayish plant with a strong velvety-woolly pubescence. Leaves are entire or slightly lobed, with small petioles at the lower part of the stem. The bracts are large, stem leaves are smaller and entire, arranged in whorls. Leaf teeth are poorly developed. The bracts are large and almost sessile. Flowers are in false whorls of 2-4. The corolla is large, 3-4 cm long, violet-pink, softly pubescent outside with a tube 1.5-2 cm long and 3-4 mm wide, with a bilabiate limb. The upper lip is arched and notched; the lower lip is deflected, three-lobed with a large notched middle lobe and smaller entire side lobes.
Biological features. Blooms in July - August. Propagation is vegetative and by seeds.
Distribution general and in the country. Mountains of Central Asia. In Kyrgyzstan - Inner Tien Shan (Toguz-Toro, Ak-Teke Mountain), Alai Ridge.
Habitat. Stony steep southern slopes of alpine and sub-nival zones. Screes.
Population. Small.
Limiting factors. Not identified.
Cultivation. No information available.
Existing conservation measures. No special conservation measures have been developed. Included in the Red Book of the Kyrgyz SSR (1985).
Recommended conservation measures. General measures related to the conservation of highland nature and preservation of the species' habitats.
Kiyshyk korum gul
Anomalous Alajja
Alajja anomala (Juz.) Jkonn. (Erianthera anomala Juz)
Status: VU. This rare species is Middle-Asian endemic, mosaic-distributed in highlands only. It is spread in Inner Tien Shan (Toguz-Toroo District, Ak-Teke Mountains) and in Alai Mountains. This low, very densely downy perennial plant sporadically populates screes and stony steep slopes of southern exposition, in alpine and sub-glacial zones, and occurs in small numbers. Period of flowering: July - August; propagation is both vegetative and generative (by seeds). This species is unknown in cultivation. Limiting factors are still not revealed. The species is included in the Red Book of the country, but no special preservation measures are elaborated. General routine of highland nature conservation is needed.
