Incarvillea olgae
Status: CR B2ab(iii). A very rare, critically endangered ancient species requiring special protection.
Description. Perennial plant up to 1 m tall. Leaves are pinnately dissected, the uppermost leaves are entire. Flowers in a loose terminal panicle. The corolla is large, up to 4 cm long, with unequal five lobes, slightly bilabiate, pink-purple, rarely white. The calyx has triangular teeth. There are 4 stamens with bilobed anthers. The fruit is a many-seeded, elongated, leathery capsule up to 10 cm long.
Biological features. Blooms in June-July; fruits in August-September. Propagates by seeds.
Distribution general and in the country. Tajikistan (Western Pamir, Pamir-Alai). In Kyrgyzstan - northern macro-slope of the Alai Range in the interfluve of the Shakhimardan and Sokh rivers.
Habitat. In pebble river floodplains, on cones of stony and clayey slopes at altitudes from 700 to 2500 m above sea level.
Population. The range is extremely limited. Found as single specimens. The species is critically endangered.
Limiting factors. Due to its ornamental qualities, it is collected by the population. Geological developments are taking place in its habitats.
Cultivation. Cultivated in the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic Botanical Garden from 1941-1944 and 1952-1964, good results were obtained. It absolutely cannot tolerate shading.
Existing conservation measures. Listed in the Red Book of the Kyrgyz SSR (1985) and is formally protected in the Khaidarken botanical reserve. There are no special conservation measures.
Recommended conservation measures. Conduct a population inventory, organize additional botanical reserves, and resume cultivation.
Olga’s Chinese Trumpet-creeper
Incarvillea olgae Regel
Status: Critically endangered (CR B2ab(iii)), rare local species endemic to the north-western spurs of the Alai Mountains. This ornamental perennial plant is the only representative of the relic genus in Kyrgyzstan and is known from the area between the Sokh and Shakhimardan Rivers (Katrang-Too Mountain Range). The species populates pebbles in riverbeds and stony and clayey slopes, at 700-2,500 m above sea level. Period of flowering: June - July, fruiting in August; propagation is generative (by seeds) only. The number is extremely small, with plants occurring as single specimens. Limiting factors: small territory of occupancy and distribution, flower collection, disturbance of habitats caused by the mining industry. The species was successfully cultivated in Bishkek Botanical Garden in 1941-1944 and 1952-1964; the plant shows absolute intolerance to shading. The species is included in the Red Book of the country in 1985 and is under protection in the Khaidarken botanical wildlife area. For the species’ conservation, it is recommended to create additional botanical wildlife areas and to resume and expand cultivation in Bishkek Botanical Garden.
