Ostrovski’s Tulip
Status: VU. A narrowly endemic species of the Kyrgyz and Zailiysky ranges. It deserves attention as a highly decorative plant and as a material for breeding.
Description. A perennial herbaceous bulbous plant. The bulb is egg-shaped, 1.5-3 cm in diameter, covered with dark leathery tunics, densely hairy inside at the top. The plants have a bare thin stem 20-30 cm high. Leaves are 2-3 in number, almost prostrate on the ground, glaucous, bare, slightly curled at the edges, tapering at the top, linear-lanceolate. The flower is solitary, elegant, red or orange-red, orange, yellow, with a black yellow-edged center. The tepals are sharp: the outer ones are elongated rhombic, the inner ones are inversely elongated. The capsule is 3 cm long, 1.1 cm wide, narrow elongated with almost parallel edges, rounded rectangular in shape. The capsule splits along its entire length to the carpophore with a narrow slit with almost parallel edges. Seeds are small (0.5 x 0.4 cm), light brown, almost without a margin.
Biological features. It blooms in April-May; fruits in May-June. In Bishkek, it blooms in mid-April, lasting 10-12 days. In natural conditions and in culture, it easily hybridizes with Kolpakovsky’s tulip. It reproduces by seeds.
General distribution and in the country. Northern slopes of the Zailiysky and Kyrgyz ranges (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan). In Kyrgyzstan - Kyrgyz range.
Habitat. Fine soil and gravelly slopes of the mid-mountain belt. Population. There is a noticeable trend towards reduction.
Limiting factors. Human economic activities in the habitats of the species: plowing, intensive grazing during the flowering period of the species. The tulip is highly decorative. It is collected in large quantities by the population for bouquets.
Cultivation. Successfully grown from bulbs in botanical gardens of the CIS countries and abroad. In Kyrgyzstan, it is insufficiently studied in culture.
Existing conservation measures. Included in the Red Book of the Kazakh SSR (1981), the Red Book of the USSR (1984), the Red Book of the Kyrgyz SSR (1985).
Recommended conservation measures. Expand the network of reserves in areas of high species concentration. Organize monitoring of the condition of natural populations, prohibit flower collection and bulb digging. Introduce into culture.
Ostrovski’s Tulip
Tulipa ostrowskiana Regel
Status: VU. It is a North Tien Shan endemic species narrowly spread in the Alexander and Trans-Ili Mountain Ranges (Northern Kyrgyzstan and Southern Kazakhstan). The species is scarcely distributed in the mid-montane belt at metal and silty-soil slopes. This popular ornamental plant flowers in April - May, fruits in May - June, and propagates generatively (by seeds). This species often hybridizes with T. kolpakowskiana both in nature and in culture. Limiting factors include excessive pasturage and mass collection of flowers for bouquets by people. The species is cultivated in foreign botanical gardens but is still insufficiently studied in culture in Kyrgyzstan. Prohibiting flower collection and pasturage during the vegetation period, as well as creating small protected territories in places of concentrated populations and wide introduction into culture, are necessary for the conservation of the species.