Korolkov’s Sage
Status: VU. A rare narrow endemic species. A highly decorative plant.
Description. A semi-shrub with a long rhizome and well-formed caudex. The leaves are mainly basal, with 2-3 pairs on the stem, elongated, green on top, and white-woolly pubescent on the underside. The bracts fall off early; they are not found on flowering and fruiting specimens. The inflorescence is weakly branched, usually with one pair of short lower branches, false whorls are spaced 1-3 cm apart, with 2-10 flowers. The peduncles are 10-12 mm long, pubescent, and remain after the fruits fall. The calyx is membranous, with 13 prominent veins; the upper lip is three-toothed, with a large middle tooth; the lower lip is bilobed, opened and enlarged when fruiting. The corolla is yellow, its tube hidden in the calyx; the upper lip of the corolla is shorter or equal to the lower, straight, pubescent on the outside, the lower lip has turned-back lateral lobes, the middle lobe is convex, ovate, and drooping. The fruit is a nutlet.
Biological features. Flowers in June-July; fruits in July-August. Propagation is by seeds.
Distribution general and in the country. Uzbekistan (southeastern spurs of the Karzhantau, Ugam, Pskem, and Koksu Mountains, northwestern spurs of the Chatkal Range) and Kyrgyzstan (Chatkal River basin).
Habitat. On rocky and gravelly slopes in the lower mountain zone.
Population. A very limited population. Known from several locations in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. No collections in the herbarium of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Limiting factors. It can easily be destroyed due to the small size of the populations. Some thickets have been damaged during road construction.
Cultivation. Grows in the Tashkent Botanical Garden.
Existing conservation measures. Listed in the Red Data Book of the USSR (1984), the Red Data Book of the Uzbek SSR (1984), and the Red Data Book of the Kyrgyz SSR (1985).
Recommended conservation measures. Establishment of botanical reserves in areas with the highest concentration of populations.
Korolkov’s Sage, Корольков шалфейи, Корольков кёк башы
Korolkov’s Sage
Salvia korolkowii Regel et Schmalh.
Status: VU. This ornamental semi-shrub plant is a rare endemic of Western Tien Shan. The specific area includes Karzhantau (southeastern spurs), Ugam, Pskem, and Chatkal (northwestern part) Mountain Ranges. Plants occur on metal and stony slopes in the low-montane zone. Period of flowering: June - July, fruiting in July - August; propagation is generative (by seeds). The number of populations is insignificant, and abundance is low. The species is cultivated in Tashkent Botanical Garden but is absent in culture in Kyrgyzstan. Limiting factors: small area of occupancy, possible road construction, and other economic land development in habitats. The species is listed in the Red Books of Kyrgyzstan (1985), Uzbekistan, and the USSR. The creation of botanical wildlife areas for the most abundant populations is recommended to conserve this species.
