Research Article |
Corresponding author: Hyeok Jae Choi ( skinh@hanmail.net ) Academic editor: Lorenzo Peruzzi
© 2024 Serik A. Kubentayev, Shukherdorj Baasanmunkh, Daniyar T. Alibekov, Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev, Nudkhuu Nyamgerel, Anna A. Ivashchenko, Zagarjav Tsegmed, Vladimir G. Epiktetov, Gulnara T. Sitpayeva, Klara S. Izbastina, Zhansaya T. Idrissova, Saule K. Mukhtubayeva, Nurganym B. Abubakirova, Hee-Young Gil, Hyeok Jae Choi.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Kubentayev SA, Baasanmunkh S, Alibekov DT, Tojibaev KSh, Nyamgerel N, Ivashchenko AA, Tsegmed Z, Epiktetov VG, Sitpayeva GT, Izbastina KS, Idrissova ZT, Mukhtubayeva SK, Abubakirova NB, Gil H-Y, Choi HJ (2024) Revisiting the genus Tulipa (Liliaceae) in Kazakhstan, the country with the richest tulip diversity worldwide. PhytoKeys 250: 95-163. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.250.136736
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The genus Tulipa L., belonging to the Liliaceae family, has significant economic, horticultural, and ecological importance and is culturally revered in various regions worldwide. The total number of Tulipa species, including 90–120 taxa, varies based on different sources. Globally, Kazakhstan has one of the highest diversities of Tulipa species, most of which are threatened. In this study, we update and revise the Tulipa species in Kazakhstan based on field observations and an extensive herbarium specimens’ survey. A total of 41 taxa were identified, including 13 species endemic to Kazakhstan, among which seven species have been assessed as threatened globally. Furthermore, we gathered 1,942 occurrence records of 41 Tulipa taxa to analyze spatial arrangement of Tulipa species richness in Kazakhstan. Based on these results, we identified 22 grid cells with a high diversity of tulip species in southern Kazakhstan. We also present taxonomic key for all Tulipa species occurring in Kazakhstan, along with comments on their general distribution, habitat, phenology, distribution map, and conservation status. In addition, a color plate for each species is provided. Overall, our study provides valuable insights into the conservation status, distribution patterns, and biodiversity of Tulipa species in Kazakhstan, laying a foundation for targeted conservation efforts and further research in the region.
Conservation, endemism, species pattern, threatened species, Tulipa
Tulipa L. species, belonging to the Liliaceae family, have significant economic, horticultural, ecological, and aesthetic importance, are culturally revered in various regions worldwide (
The bulbs of Tulipa spp. are covered with a thin tunic that is glabrous or hairy. Typically, large flowers are trimerous, comprising two whorls of three brightly colored tepals, with the two whorls sometimes differing in color or having differently colored blotches at the base of each tepal (
Species of this genus occur naturally in temperate habitats, ranging from the Middle East, Central Asia, and North China to southern Europe and North Africa (
In the late 18th century, P.S. Pallas surveyed Western Siberia and the adjacent territories and was the first to describe herbarium specimens of tulips from Kazakhstan (
Specifically, in the second half of the 19th century, E.L. Regel made an invaluable contribution studying Kazakhstani tulips by describing 17 tulip species (
Zinaida Petrovna Botschantzeva devoted her life to studying tulips in Central Asia, describing five new species and publishing a monograph, Tulips: morphology, cytology and biology” (
According to various sources, the number of tulips in Kazakhstan ranges from 32 to 42. For example,
In the present study, we revisited the genus Tulipa in Kazakhstan based on field surveys (2020–2024) and extensive herbarium specimens. The primary aims of this study are to (i) provide an updated synopsis with the taxonomic keys and taxonomic notes on all species along with photographic documentation of wild plants, (ii) determine species diversity and distribution using all known occurrence records from various sources across Kazakhstan, and (iii) discuss future conservation actions for tulips.
Species occurrences data were gathered from four main sources: (i) field survey observations between 2020 and 2024; (ii) literature (i.e.
A total of 2,496 occurrence records were gathered, including 821 herbarium specimens and 1,675 observations from iNaturalist (accessed on 01 Apr 2024). The coordinates and misidentification of each observation were critically examined on iNaturalist. After removing duplicates and doubtful records, 1,942 occurrence records were retained for species pattern analysis.
For the characterization of each species distribution, the floristic division of Kazakhstan (Fig.
Map of the floristic division of Kazakhstan based on
We created a grid net for Kazakhstan with a spatial resolution of 0.5° × 0.5° grid size (equivalent to approximately 50 × 50 km2) using the FishNet tool in ArcGIS 10.3 (
The conservation status of each species followed the Red Book of Kazakhstan (
To explore the evolutionary relationship of Tulipa spp. in Kazakhstan, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences for 30 Tulipa species, collected only from Kazakhstan and belonging to three subgenera, were downloaded from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) GenBank (Suppl. material
In this study, 41 Tulipa taxa, including 1 hybrid, Tulipa × tschimganica Botschantz., were identified (Suppl. material
The number of occurrences and collection years between the herbarium specimens and the observations were compared (Fig.
A phylogenetic tree was generated for 43 accessions of 31 Tulipa species, including 7 endemic species (Fig.
Three different indices were analyzed (i.e., SR, WE, and CWE, for Tulipa species using 1,942 occurrences across the country (Fig.
The distribution of Tulipa species in Kazakhstan was uneven, with most species recorded on the ridges of Western Tian Shan. The fewest species were recorded in the desert areas of southwestern Kazakhstan and the steppe regions of Northern and Central Kazakhstan. The highest concentrations of Tulipa species were documented in three floristic regions: Western Tian Shan (12 species), Trans-Ili Kungey Alatau (10 species) and Dzungarian Alatau (8 species). Additionally, 5–7 species were observed in 11 other floristic regions, namely Karatau (7 species), Moiynkum (7 species), Turgay (7 species), Altai (6 species), Betpak-Dala (6 species), Chu-Ili Range (6 species), Kyrgyz Alatau (6 species), Turkestan (6 species), Western Upland (6 species), Aral region (5 species), and Balkhash-Alakol (5 species); 2–4 species were identified in 15 floristic regions: Aktobe (4 species), Eastern Upland (4 species), Ketmen-Terskey Alatau (4 species), Mugojary (4 species), Tobol-Ishim (4 species), Zaysan (4 species), Bukeev (3 species), Caspian region (3 species), Kyzylorda (3 species), Syrt (3 species), Tarbagatai (3 species), Ulutau (3 species), Emba (2 species), Karkaraly (2 species), and Northern Ustyrt (2 species); and 1 species each was identified in Irtysh, Kokchetav, Kyzylkum, Mangyshlak, Semipalatinsk Pine Forest, and Southern Ustyrt. Meanwhile, no Tulipa species were detected in Buzachi (Suppl. material
Generally, the distribution of tulip species was consistent with the findings of
However, a new location for T. altaica was found in the current study in the Western Upland and Betpak-Dala in Kazakhstan, significantly extending the species’ general distribution range. Additionally, new localities of T. auliekolica were established in Northern Kazakhstan. Previously, this species was only reported in two localities, including the classical locality (15 km from the Karamendy). Moreover, T. annae was listed for the first time in the Dzungarian Alatau (Taskora Gorge), based on photographic observations by
Of all 41 species of tulips in Kazakhstan, 18 species are listed in the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan (
Based on the
1 | Filaments glabrous, flowers generally bowl-shaped with a rounded base and predominantly with red or yellow color, if white ovary as long as stamens, with a very long style | 2 |
– | Filaments with hairs at the base and/or soft hairs along their length; flowers funnel-shaped, with a slight constriction just above the base, and predominantly white or whitish-yellow color | 7 |
2 | Bulb tunics typically papery and glabrous inside; leaves 2; ovary as long as stamens, with a very long style | sect. Orithyia |
– | Bulb tunics typically of varying consistency, from papery to coriaceous and covered with varying degrees of hair on the inside; leaves usually 2 to numerous; ovary slightly shorter than stamens, with sessile style | 3 |
3 | Anthers opening gradually and slowly (during 2–3 days) from tip to base and becoming contorted | sect. Spiranthera |
– | Anthers opening rapidly, not becoming contorted | 4 |
4 | Leaves narrow, glaucous; bulb tunic extended, sometimes up to soil level | sect. Kolpakowskianae |
– | Leaves often broad; bulb tunic not extended up to soil level | 5 |
5 | Leaves with anthocyan markings | sect. Vinistriatae |
– | Leaves without anthocyan markings | 6 |
6 | Bulb tunics scales leathery, long hairy inside, more densely hairy basally and apically; stem pubescent; leaves erect-ascending, the lower leaf base is as high above the ground, glossy, pubescent adaxially, whitish-reddish margined, keeled; tepals red with yellow 3-dentate spot at base | sect. Lanatae |
– | Bulb tunics weakly coriaceous, blackish-brown, more or less hairy all over; stem glabrous to more or less pubescent; leaves more or less spreading, scattered, glaucous, rather crisp, glabrous or pubescent; tepals polychrome in color, usually red, yellow or white, basal blotch black or yellow or absent | sect. Tulipa |
7 | Bulb tunics covered inside with some short, sometimes adpressed hairs on the top, middle part glabrous or ± glabrous; anthers oblong and without cusp | sect. Sylvestres |
– | Bulb tunics covered inside with woolly, sometimes densely adpressed hairs on the top and base anthers terminating in a short cusp | sect. Biflores |
Tulipa suaveolens Roth in Ann. Bot. (Usteri) 10: 44 (1794).
—Tulipa gesneriana L., Sp. Pl. 1: 306 (1753).
Tulipa ivasczenkoae Epiktetov & Belyalov in Turczaninowia 16: 5 (2013).
Tulipa ser. Lanatae van Raamsd., van Raamsd. & T. de Vries, Pl. Syst. Evol. 195: 40 (1995).
—Tulipa lanata Regel, Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 8: 647 (1884).
—T. kolpakowskiana Regel, Trudy Imp. S. Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 5: 266 (1877).
1 | Bulb tunic fibrous, splitting, black to tawny, prolonged to soil surface, inside densely covered with curly woolly hairs; stamens one-third to two-fifths the length of perigone; filaments black to purple | 2 |
– | Bulb tunic not fibrous and splitting, black to dark brown, not prolonged or slightly prolonged (if prolonged up to soil surface, then lined with woolly hairs at the top and glabrous below); stamens two or three times shorter than the perigone, filaments yellow | 3 |
2 | Upper leaves exceeding or at least reaching the flower; aboveground part one-half to two-thirds as long as the underground part; tepals with a dark violet blotch on both surfaces | T. borszczowii |
– | Upper leaves do not exceed the flower; aboveground part as long as or slightly longer than the underground part; tepals usually with a dark basal blotch on the inner surface, rarely on both surfaces | T. lehmanniana |
3 | Stem in upper part and peduncle pubescent | 4 |
– | Stem and peduncle glabrous | 5 |
4 | Stem up to 7.5 cm long, reddish green leaves usually lying on the soil surface ; tepals with short hairs on both sides near the base, tepals outside dull pinkish-red with yellow margins | T. annae |
– | Stem up to 35 cm long, green; leaves usually scattered on the stem, never lying on the soil surface, glabrous; tepals glabrous, outer tepals outside yellowish-gray with a pinkish haze between the center and narrow yellow margins | T. altaica |
5 | Tepals usually red, sometimes yellow-red or yellow; filaments black in the lower part and purple in the upper part, rarely in yellow form entirely yellow | T. korolkowii |
– | Tepals usually yellow or yellowish, sometimes red filaments commonly concolorous | 6 |
6 | Filaments gradually dilated at base, expanded in the middle part | 7 |
– | Filaments with nearly parallel margins, abruptly narrowed at apex | 9 |
7 | Leaves (3–4) 5 up to 7, very close together, all sublorate, surpassing the flower; flowers 1 or 2, up to 4 | T. tetraphylla |
– | Leaves (3) 4, spreading, commonly not surpassing the flower; flower usually solitary | 8 |
8 | Bulb tunics coriaceous; lowest leaf sublorate to linear-lanceolate, 0.7–1.5 cm broad; tepals mostly acute or acuminate; anthers half as long as filaments | T. iliensis |
– | Bulb tunics papery, sometimes subcoriaceous; lowest leaf linear-lanceolate, 2–3 cm broad; tepals mostly obtuse; anthers as long as filaments | T. brachystemon |
9 | Tepals yellow, not blotched; leaves commonly surpassing the flower | 10 |
– | Tepals usually red with a black basal blotch, sometimes yellow-red or yellow; leaves commonly not surpassing the flower | 12 |
10 | Plants small, up to 7 cm tall; tepals usually incurved | T. lemmersii |
– | Plants taller, 10–15 cm tall; tepals usually not incurved | 11 |
11 | Bulb ovoid or usually slightly prolonged with fibers above the bulb; outer tepals oblong to oblong-rhomboidal, inner tepals oblong-oblanceolate to oblong; filaments straight, orange-yellow | T. kolpakowskiana |
– | Bulb pear-shaped, tunics not prolonged and without fibers; outer tepals lanceolate, the tip and nearby margins covered with short hairs, inner tepals obovate; filaments ovate to almost straight, yellow, mottled with grayish | T. jansii |
12 | Tepals usually yellow, lower-most leaf oblong-lanceolate to oblong, 3–6 cm broad | T. zenaidae |
– | Tepals usually red, lower-most leaf linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, 1–4 cm broad | T. ostrowskiana |
—Tulipa greigii Regel in Gartenflora 22: 290, t. 773. (1873).
1 | Inner tepals obovate and slightly longer than the outer; leaves profusely violet-speckled on upper side | T. greigii |
– | Inner tepals triangular-obovate and shorter than the outer; leaves without violet-speckled on upper side | T. alberti |
—Tulipa kaufmanniana Regel in Gartenflora 26: 194 (1877).
1 | Relatively small plants, sometimes with almost sessile flowers; leaves curled or undulate; anthers almost equal in length with filaments or up to 1.5 times longer, not becoming strongly incurved or twisted; filaments rather thick | T. dubia |
– | Relatively tall plants; flowers usually not sessile; leaves not curled or slightly undulate; anthers 2–4 times longer than filaments, when ripe the tips are curved down and outwards; filaments narrowly triangular | 2 |
2 | Anthers becoming strongly incurved or twisted; filaments yellow, dilated at the base; widespread in various habitats on all ranges of Kazakhstan part of Western Tian-Shan | T. kaufmanniana |
– | Anthers not becoming strongly incurved or twisted; filaments yellow with brown apex, narrow, slightly dilated at the base; grows on stony-gravelly slopes of Karzhantau Range | T. tschimganica |
Tulipa uniflora (L.) Besser ex Baker.
—Tulipa uniflora Besser ex Baker, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 14: 295 (1874).
1 | Bulb elongate-ovoid, tunics naked, leaves opposite | T. heterophylla |
– | Bulb ovoid, tunics with appressed hairs inside at apex; leaves alternate; anthers 3–6 mm long | 2 |
2 | Leaves narrowly linear-lanceolate, usually slightly surpassing the flower with brown margins; tepals obtuse or subobtuse; filaments gradually attenuate from base | T. uniflora |
– | Leaves much scattered, linear, glabrous, not surpassing the flower with reddish margins; tepals very acute; filaments dilated below the middle; anthers up to 9 mm long | T. heteropetala |
—Tulipa sylvestris Pall., Sp. Pl.: 305 (1753).
1 | Tepals yellow, the outer often violet tinged on the outside | 2 |
– | Tepals white, yellow at base, the outer greenish-gray on the outside, becoming darker toward the base | T. patens |
2 | Bulb tunics ca. 2–2.5 cm; ovary slightly shorter than stamens; forest lawns and meadows in river valleys | T. biebersteiniana |
– | Bulb tunics up to 4.5 cm; ovary equal to or longer than stamens; dry steppe or semi-desert plains | T. turgaica |
—Tulipa biflora Pall., Reise Russ. Reich. 3: 727 (1776).
1 | Filaments glabrous | T. sogdiana |
– | Filaments with a ring of hairs at the base or scattered hairs along their length | 2 |
2 | Leaf solitary, with raised undulating ridges along its length | T. regelii |
– | Leaves 2 to several, never with undulating ridges along its length | 3 |
3 | Bulb tunics glabrous; leaves 3–7, very close together; flowers 1–8 | T. tarda |
– | Bulb tunics always hairy to varying degrees, sometimes with few appressed hairs at apex (T. dasystemon); leaves commonly 2 or sometimes 3, scattered, spreading | 4 |
4 | Bulb tunics papery or nearly so | 5 |
– | Bulb tunics coriaceous or sub-coriaceous | 9 |
5 | Flowers commonly yellow; bulb tunics blackish-brown | T. auliekolica |
– | Flowers commonly white, creamy white with a yellow (whitish yellow) blotch; bulb tunics brown or grayish-brown | 6 |
6 | Stem 30–50 mm long, covered with short hairs; bulb tunics reddish-brown with woolly hairs at the top; capsule with a small dome on the top; at an altitude of 1800 m | T. dianaeverettiae |
– | Stem up to 20–25 cm long, glabrous; bulb tunics light to dull brown, inside glabrous or covered with woolly hairs more densely at the top; capsule without dome on the top; below an altitude of 1800 m | 7 |
7 | Stamens slightly longer than ovary; anthers 2–3 mm long | T. biflora |
– | Stamens shorter or equal to ovary; anthers 5–7 mm long | 8 |
8 | Bulbs globose or pear-shaped, inside glabrous, at the neck with some hairs; flowers solitary; stamens longer than the ovary; low bushes in Taskora and adjacent Kolasu Valleys of Dzjungarian Ala-Tau | T. kolbintsevii |
– | Bulbs ovoid, inside in upper third thinly covered with thin, more or less parallel hairs, becoming more densely hairy apically; flowers 2(3); stamens shorter or equal to ovary; stabilized fixed and hilly-ridged sands over brown and gray-brown soils, in depressions of takyrs and solonchaks with sparse semi-desert/desert vegetation in Zhetysu region, extreme southern part of Dzungarian Alatau | T. salsola |
9 | Leaves almost opposite, very close together; style very short or practically absent; flower buds and flowers upturned; endemic of Karatau Ridge | T. orthopoda |
– | Leaves mostly distant or more or less approximate; style short or with a rather long style; buds and flowers are not inverted; plants are more widespread in the desert and mountainous parts of Kazakhstan | 10 |
10 | Upper part of stem and peduncle pubescent; flower whitish with yellow blotch; style short; plants of plains, foothills and mid-mountains, up to 2400–2500 m | 11 |
– | Upper part of stem and peduncle glabrous; flower pale yellow or whitish; style long; plants of high mountains, above 2400–2500 m | 14 |
11 | Leaves very scattered, usually shorter than flower; sandy and clay soils in predominantly arid plains | T. buhseana |
– | Leaves more or less distant, commonly longer than the flower; foothills and mid-mountains of West Tian Shan | 12 |
12 | Bulb tunic brown-gray or reddish-brown, covered with woolly hairs | 13 |
– | Bulb tunic dark brown, at the upper part densely covered with more appressed long silky hairs | T. turkestanica |
13 | Bulb tunic reddish-brown or pink, densely covered with woolly hairs on the inside, most of which are at the top and base filaments narrow triangular with hairs above the hairy rim | T. bifloriformis |
– | Bulb tunic brown-gray, covered with felt-like short woolly hairs concentrated at the top; leaves narrower; filaments narrow triangular, glabrous above the hairy rim | T. kujukense |
14 | Bulb tunic usually light-brown or brown, papery, glabrous or covered with few straight, adpressed, white hairs at tip; anthers oblong; ovary scarcely shorter than stamens | T. dasystemon |
– | Bulb tunic black to tawny, thin coriaceous, densely lined with woolly hairs at tip; anthers linear-oblong; ovary about the length of stamens | T. dasystemonoides |
Detailed taxonomic notes are provided for each species with phenology, conservation status, distribution, and type information. In addition, capsule characteristics are important for identifying Tulipa species, according to
Capsules of Tulipa species in Kazakhstan A T. alberti B T. altaica C T. annae D T. auliekolica E T. biflora F T. bifloriformis G T. borszczowii H T. brachystemon I T. buhseana J T. dasystemon K T. dubia L T. greigii M T. heteropetala N T. heterophylla O T. ivasczenkoae P T. kaufmanniana Q T. kolbintsevii R T. korolkowii S T. kolpakowskiana T T. lehmanniana U T. lemmersii V T. orthopoda W T. ostrowskiana X T. patens Y T. regelii Z T. salsola ZA T. sogdiana ZB T. biebersteiniana ZC T. tarda ZD T. tetraphylla ZE T. turgaica ZF T. turkestanica ZG T. uniflora ZH T. zenaidae.
Kazakhstan • Illustration t. 912 in Gartenflora 26 (1877) [lectotype designated by
Endemic to Kazakhstan (
Balkhash-Alakol, Betpak-Dala, Chu-Ili Range, Dzungarian Alatau, Eastern Upland, Karatau, Moinkym, Trans-Ili Kungey Alatau, and Western Upland. Grows on dry rubbly and stony slopes of low mountains.
Tulipa alberti is assessed near threatened at the global level (
Flowering in April–May; fruiting in May–June.
Eduard Regel described T. alberti in 1877, based on materials collected by his son Albert Regel, who worked as a doctor in Kulja, from the Karatau Mountains in 1876 (
• ‘Mons Imaus’ Pallas (not located). Neotype: Ledebour, Ic. Pl. Ross. 2: t. 134 (1830) [designated by
China (Xinjiang), Kazakhstan and Russia (Altai, west Siberia) (
Altai, Betpak-Dala, Eastern Upland, Tarbagatai, Western Upland, and Zaysan. This species grows on stony slopes of low mountains and steppe areas at the foot of mountains, as well as among shrubs on rubbly slopes.
Tulipa altaica is assessed as least concern at the global level (
Flowering in April–May; fruiting in May–June.
This species was first collected by P.S. Pallas in Altai (Mount Imaus) in the late 18th century. However, it was first described in 1825 by the German botanist Kurt Sprengel (
Kazakhstan • Marble Pass, Altai region, north-eastern Kazakhstan, 2008, JJ de Groot (holotype L 3986814).
China (Xinjiang) and Kazakhstan (
The IUCN conservation status of this species requires assessment.
Flowering in March–April; fruiting in May–June.
Tulipa annae was described in 2020 from plants grown in a cultural collection in the Netherlands and bulbs collected at the Marble Pass in eastern Kazakhstan. This species is morphologically similar to T. altaica but differs by the presence of short hairs on the leaves, a smaller overall habit, the ovary shorter than the stamens and a tunic on the bulb elongated into a long spout. Tulipa annae is named after Anna Ivaschenko, a well-known botanist living and working in Almaty, Kazakhstan (
Kazakhstan • Prov. Kostanay, Auliekol distr., 25 April 2009, Yu. Perezhogin s.n. (LE).
Endemic to Kazakhstan (
The IUCN conservation status of this species requires assessment.
Flowering in April; fruiting expected from May to June.
Tulipa auliekolica was first described in 2013 by Yu. V. Perezhogin from Kostanay region, Northern Kazakhstan. Morphologically, this species is similar to T. biflora but differs in its darker blackish-brown bulb tunics and yellow flower petals (
Russia • ‘In hortis et vineis ad fluvium Terek inter Mosdok et Kisljar’, April, Bieberstein (not found).
Kazakhstan, Krym, North Caucasus, and Transcaucasus (
Aktobe, Mugojary, Aral region, Western Upland, Ulytau, Syrt, Tobol-Ishim, Bukeev, Turgay, and Caspian region.
The IUCN conservation status of this species requires assessment. It is included in the red book of Kazakhstan (CategoryIII).
Flowering in March–April; fruiting in May–June.
Tulipa biebersteiniana was described in 1829 by J.H. Schultes from specimens from the North Caucasus (between Mozdok and Kizlyar). The species was named in honor of Russian botanist F. K. Biberstein-Marshall (
Russia • Described from southern Russia, Pallas (lectotype BW000528948) [lectotype designated by
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan (Northern Ustyurt), China (northern part), the south of Russia, Transcaucasia, and Crimea (
Aktobe, Aral region, Betpak-Dala, Bukeev, Caspian region, Eastern Upland, Karkaraly, Mugojary, Northern Ustyrt, Turgay, Western Upland, and Zaysan. It grows on solonetz, clay steppe, and desert areas and less often on the stony and rubbly slopes of hills.
The IUCN conservation status of this species requires assessment. It is included in the red book of Kazakhstan (Category I).
Flowering in April–May; fruiting in May–June.
The species was described in 1776 by P. S. Pallas from specimens collected from the Caspian deserts. The location of the type specimens is unknown (
Uzbekistan • Tian-Schan occidentalis, in collibus argillosis circa urb. Taschkent, 19 March 1923, M.G. Popov & A.I. Vvedensky 1036 (holotype TASH000502!; isotypes BM, H1200916, K).
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan (
Karatau, Kyrgyz Alatau, Kyzylorda, Moiynkum, Turkestan, and Western Tian Shan. This species grows on the clay, stony, and rubbly slopes of hills, steppes and semi-desert foothill plains.
Tulipa bifloriformis is assessed as least concern at the global level (
Flowering in March–April; fruiting in May–June.
Tulipa bifloriformis was described by Vvedensky in 1935 from herbarium material collected near Tashkent in 1923. Later, a complete diagnosis of this species was published in ‘Conspectus Florae Asiae Mediae’ (
Kazakhstan • Steppe Kara-Kum am Aralsee, Borszczow 677 (holotype LE!; photograph K).
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan (
Aral region, Betpak-Dala, Kyzylkum, Kyzylorda, Moiynkum, and Turkestan. This species grows in sandy and clay-sandy deserts.
Tulipa borszczowii is a near threatened species at the global level (
Flowering in April–May; fruiting in May–June.
Tulipa borszczowii was described by E.L. Regel in 1868 from the collections of Russian botanist I.G. Borshchow from Aral Karakum. The species is morphologically similar to T. lehmanniana, differing in its flower stalk that does not droop in buds, leaves exceeding or reaching the flower, and a shorter above-ground stem part that is 1.5–2 times shorter than the underground part (
• Illustration t. 1099, f. 2 in Gartenflora 31 (1882) [lectotype designated by
Endemic to Kazakhstan (
Dzungarian Alatau. It grows on stony, rubbly slopes of the lower and middle belt of mountains in Dzungarian Alatau (up to 1700 m a.s.l.).
Tulipa brachystemon is a least concern species at the global level (
Flowering in April–May; fruiting in May–June.
Tulipa brachystemon was described by E.L. Regel in 1882, without the precise location of the type specimens. The LE herbarium contains collections of A. E. Regel from Schengeldy (
Iran • ‘Prope Yezd Persiae’, Buhse (holotype G).
Afghanistan, China, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan (
Aral region, Balkhash-Alakol, Betpak-Dala, Chu-Ili range, Karatau, Kyzylorda, Moiynkum, Trans-Ili Kungey Alatau, Turgay, Turkestan, and Western Tian Shan. This species grows on sandy and clay deserts, and semi-deserts also occur on the rubbly slopes of lowlands.
The IUCN conservation status of this species requires assessment.
Flowering in March–April; fruiting in May–June.
Tulipa buhseana was described by P.E. Boissier in 1859 based on the collections of V.A. Buhse from Iran. Collections of T. buhseana from the northern Balkhash region had filaments with sparse pubescence, while the collections from the vicinity of the Shieli town, Kyzylorda region had glabrous filaments. According to
Kazakhstan • ‘In montibus prope Wernoje ad fluvium Almatinka’, A. Regel (holotype LE; isotype PRC454341).
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and China (Xinjiang) (
Ketmen Terskey Alatau, Kyrgyz Alatau, Trans-Ili Kungey Alatau. This species grows on steppe and meadow slopes, as well as on forest glades from the middle to the alpine belt (1900–3000 m a.s.l.).
Tulipa dasystemon is a least concern species at global level (
Flowering in April–June; fruiting in May–August.
Tulipa dasystemon was described by E.L. Regel in 1879 from the Almaty vicinity (in the valley of the Almatinka River) (
Kazakhstan • ‘Altai Talac’, 11 June 1909, Minkwitz 1365 (holotype LE!).
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan (
Kyrgyz Alatau, and Western Tian Shan. This species grows in meadows in the alpine belt of mountains and is sometimes found at the lower limit of the sub-alpine belt.
The IUCN conservation status of this species requires assessment.
Flowering in May–June; fruiting in June–August.
Tulipa dasystemonoides was described by A.I. Vvedensky in 1935, based on herbarium material collected from the valley of the Maidantal River in Talas Alatau.
Kazakhstan • Altai. Altai Pass, approximately 1800 m altitude, cult. J.J. de Groot (L 3986813).
Endemic to Kazakhstan (
This species grows in open sunny places in dry sandy soil mixed with stones in the Altai.
Tulipa dianaeverettiae is a critically endangered species globally (
Flowering in April– May; fruiting in May–June.
Tulipa dianaeverettiae was described in 2020 by
Tashkent district • Chotan river gorge, slope near the confluence of Kashka-su brook into Chotan, 10 June 1909, Z. von Minkwitz (holotype LE00053022!).
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan (
Western Tian Shan. This species grows on fine-grained and rubbly-small-grained slopes in the upper belt of the mountains.
Tulipa dubia is an assessed near threatened species at the global level (
Flowering in April–June; fruiting in May–August (depending on the elevation).
Tulipa dubia was described by A.I. Vvedensky in 1935 from herbarium material collected by Z. Minkwitz in 1909 from the Tashkent district, Chotan River gorge. Typically, T. dubia populations occur in higher altitudinal zones than T. kaufmanniana and T. tschimganica. However, all three species grow at similar elevations but occupy different habitats in the Aksay Valley (Greater Chimgan). The main characteristic distinguishing T. dubia from the other species of Tulipa sect. Spiranthera is the shape of the stamen filaments and anthers (
• Illustration t. 773 in Gartenflora 22 (1873) [lectotype designated by
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan (
Chu-Ili Range, Karatau, Kyrgyz Alatau, Moiynkum, Trans-Ili Kungey Alatau, Turkestan, and Western Tian Shan. This species grows on clay and rubbly slopes up to 2400 m a.s.l., as well as on foothill plains and mountain flutes.
Tulipa greigii is a least concern species at the global level (
Flowering in April–June; fruiting in June–July.
Tulipa greigii was described by E.L. Regel in 1873 from the Karatau Mountains, based on herbarium collections of A. Sivertsev and B. Fedtschenko, initially as a variety of T. altaica var. karatavica Regel. In the same year, it was described by the same author as an independent species (
Kazakhstan • ‘Bukhtarminsk et Mont Kurtschum’, Ledebour (holotype LE).
China (Xinjiang), Kazakhstan, and Russia (Altai) (
Altai, Tarbagatai, and Zaysan. This species grows on steppes and semi-deserts on stony and rubbly slopes.
Tulipa heteropetala is a least concern species at the global level (
Flowering in April–May; fruiting in June–July.
Tulipa heteropetala was described by C.F. Ledebour in 1829 using herbarium material from the vicinity of Bukhtarma (East Kazakhstan). This species is morphologically similar to T. uniflora but different by its strong spreading, deviated leaves, very sharp tepals, and expanded stamen filaments below the middle (
China • ‘Tianshan: Trens Ui Ala-Tau’, Semenow (holotype LE).
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and China (Xinjiang) (
Trans-Ili Kungey Alatau, Ketmen Terskey Alatau. This species grows on gravelly slopes, forest clearings, and subalpine meadows.
Tulipa heterophylla is a least concern species at the global level (
Flowering in April– July; fruiting in June–August (depending on the elevation).
Tulipa heterophylla was initially described by E.L. Regel in 1868 from Zailiyskiy Alatau as Orithyia heterophylla Regel. In 1874, Baker assigned this species to the genus Tulipa. Notably, M.G. Popov allocated T. heterophylla to a new genus, Eduardoregelia Popov, in 1936 due to its unusual flower appearance (
Kyrgyzstan. ‘Sarybulak’, 23 Apr 1878, A. Regel (lectotype P-00730916; isolectotype BM) [lectotype designated by
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and China (NW-Xinjiang) (
Ketmen, and Terskey Alatau. This species grows on steppe slopes and among shrubs in the altitude range of 1300–1500 m a.s.l.
Tulipa iliensis is near threatened species at the global level (
Flowering in April–May; fruiting in June–July.
Tulipa iliensis was described by E.L. Regel in 1879 based on collections by A. Regel from the upper reaches of the Ile River. This species is morphologically similar to T. altaica, differing by the appressed hair-like pubescence at the apex and base of the bulb sheaths and linear (linear-lanceolate) leaves with a flat margin (
Kazakhstan • SW part of Dzhungarian Alatau, mts. Chulak; Aiyrkezen, upper third of stony northern slope (1100 m. a. s. l.), between bushes, 26 April 2013, V.G. Epiktetov & O.V. Belyalov (ALTB, iso – LE).
Endemic to Kazakhstan (
Dzungarian Alatau. This species grows on dry stony slopes among shrubs in low-desert mountains (1100 m a.s.l.).
Tulipa ivasczenkoae is a critically endangered species at the global level (
Flowering in April–May; fruiting in June.
Tulipa ivasczenkoae was described in 2013 from the south-western part of the Dzungarian Alatau, Chulak Mountain, Ayyrkezen. The species was named in honor of the Kazakhstani scientist Anna Andreyevna Ivasczenko, who has been studying wild bulbous plants of Kazakhstan, including tulips, since 1963. This species is closely related to the Pamir-Alai endemic T. fosteriana Irw. and T. carinata Vved. It is distinguished from the former by keeled leaves and from the latter by blunt or short pointed rather than long-pointed perianth leaflets and larger broad leaves (
• Wild collected material from the Ily Valley north of Kapchagay. J.J. de Groot and B.J.M. Zonneveld (holotype L4513065).
Endemic to Kazakhstan (
Balkhash-Alakol and Dzungarian Alatau. This species grows on dry, stony slopes at the foot of mountains.
The IUCN conservation status of this species requires assessment.
Flowering in April–May; fruiting in June.
T. jansii was recently described from the Ili River valley north of Kapchagai (
Uzbekistan • ‘In Turkestaniae montibus fluvium Tschirtschik [Chirchiq] adjacentibus’, A. Regel (LE!).
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan (
Western Tian Shan, Karatau, and Kyrgyz Alatau. This species grows on shaded slopes, meadow areas, and scrub thickets and less often on rocky slopes from the lower to the upper mountain belts.
Tulipa kaufmanniana is a near threatened species at the global level (
Flowering in March–May; fruiting in June–July.
Tulipa kaufmanniana was described by E.L. Regel in 1877 from the Chirchik River basin. The species was named in honor of Kaufmann, Governor-General of the Turkestan region (
Kazakhstan • Grown in the Netherlands from material collected at Dzjungarian Ala-Tau, Taskora Valley, cult. J.J. de Groot (holotype L 0821329!).
Endemic to Kazakhstan (
Dzungarian Alatau. This species grows among shrubs at an altitude of 650 m a.s.l.
Tulipa kolbintsevii is an endangered species at the global level (
Flowering in March–June; fruiting in May–June.
Tulipa kolbintsevii was described from the cultural collection of J.J. de Groot in the Netherlands, collected from Taskora Valley, 650 m from Dzjungarian Ala-Tau, Kazakhstan (
Kazakhstan • ‘In Turkestania prope Verniy et in valle fluvii Almatinka’, A. Regel (holotype LE; possible isotype K).
Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and China (Xinjiang) (
Trans-Ili Kungey Alatau, Moiynkum, Chu-Ili range, Dzungarian Alatau, Kyrgyz Alatau, and Ketmen Terskey Alatau. This species grows on clayey, less often gravelly, slopes of steppe and desert foothills.
Tulipa kolpakowskiana is a near threatened species at the global level (
Flowering in April–May; fruiting in June–July.
Tulipa kolpakowskiana was first described by E.L. Regel in 1877 from Verniy vicinity (Almaty). This species was named in honor of G. A. Kolpakowskiy, an honorary member of the Russian Geographical Society (
Uzbekistan • ‘Habitat in solo lutoso in desertis inter Turkestaniam et Khiwam prope Farisch’, Korolkow et Krause (holotype LE!).
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan (
Turkestan, and Western Tian Shan. This species grows on dry gravel and stony surfaces, sandy ceilings, slopes, and plains at the outlet (opening), and in the lower belt of the mountain (up to 1800 m a.s.l.).
Tulipa korolkowii is a near threatened species at the global level (
Flowering in March–April; fruiting in May–June.
Tulipa korolkowii was first described by E.L. Regel in 1875 from Forish (Uzbekistan). This species was named in honor of amateur botanist N. I. Korolkow, who lived and worked in the Turkestan region from 1868 to 1905 (
Kazakhstan • Vegetative progeny of wild collected material grown in the collection of J.J. de Groot, collection number G05-8 (holotype L4513067).
Endemic to Kazakhstan (
Karatau. This species grows among shrubs.
The IUCN conservation status of this species requires assessment.
Flowering in March–April; fruiting in May–June.
Tulipa kujukense was first described in 2024 from Karatau (Kuyuk Pass). Tulipa kujukense is morphologically similar to T. orthopoda and T. bifloriformis but differs in size and by bulb with gray-brown tunica, characteristic of the Turkestanica species group. In addition, T. kujukense has a large genome size (60.7 pg) compared with other species of T. sect. Biflores (
Uzbekistan • A. Lehmann sn., Bunge Rel. Lehm. 337 (K-000844622) [lectotype designated by
Afghanistan, Eastern Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan (
Balkhash-Alakol, Betpak-Dala, Chu-Ili range, Kyzylkum, Moiynkum, Turkestan, and Western Tian Shan. This species grows on sand and variegated rock outcrops, in sandy and stony deserts.
Tulipa lehmanniana is a near threatened species at the global level (
Flowering in April; fruiting in May–June.
Tulipa lehmanniana was described by Merklin in 1854 from collections made near Bukhara. The species was named in honor of A. Lehmann, a Russian botanist, who collected plants from Central Asia on behalf of the St. Petersburg Botanical Garden (
Kazakhstan • Chimkent: Mashad Pass, cult. A. Peterse (holotype L 0822655).
Endemic to Kazakhstan (
Western Tian Shan. This species grows on dry stony slopes with outcrops or shallow deposits of conglomerate rocks, on a plateau or canyon sites.
Tulipa lemmersii is a vulnerable species at the global level (
Flowering in March–April; fruiting in May.
Tulipa lemmersii was first found in 2007 by A. Peterse, at the top of steep cliffs on Mashat Pass, when he accompanied a tulip expedition organized by W. Lemmers (the species is named in his honor). Tulipa lemmersii can be distinguished from T. iliensis, T. ferganica, T. anisophylla, and T. tetraphylla by its glabrous stems, thin tunic, and single flowers. It can be distinguished from other species of the T. sect. Kolpakowskianae as they have mostly red and yellow flowers. It is a diploid species with the smallest genome size (36 pg) among all species in the section Kolpakowskianae (
Kazakhstan • Turkestan, 5 April 1930, Lipschitz & Pavlov 32 (holotype TASH!).
Endemic to Kazakhstan (
Karatau, Western Tian Shan. This species grows in clay, gravel and stony slopes of the lowlands.
Tulipa orthopoda is a vulnerable species at the global level (
Flowering in March–April; fruiting in May–June.
Tulipa orthopoda is a narrowly localized endemic species to Kazakhstan (
Kazakhstan • ‘Iter Turkestanicum, Kl. Almaty Schlucht bei Werny’, 2 April 1879, A. Regel (K).
Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan (
Kyrgyz Alatau and Trans-Ili Kungey Alatau. This species grows on slopes with deep nutritious soil (less often gravelly), in the lower and middle mountain belts.
Tulipa ostrowskiana is assessed near threatened at the global level (
Flowering in April– May; fruiting in June– July.
Tulipa ostrowskiana was described in 1884 by E.L. Regel from collections near Verny (Almaty). This species was first collected in 1879 by A.E. Regel and A.M. Fetisov (the chief gardener of Pishpek (Bishkek) in charge of the Treasury Garden in Verny) (
‘In Sibiria’, Agardh (LD?, not found).
Kazakhstan, and Russia.
Syrt, Tobol-Ishim, Irtysh, Semipalatinsk pine forest, Kokchetav, Mugojary, Turgay, Western Upland, Ulytau, Zaysan, Eastern Upland, Karkaraly, and Altai, Tarbagatai. This species grows in steppe, semi-desert and shrub land on gravelly clayey slopes.
The IUCN conservation status of this species requires assessment. It is included in the Red Book of Kazakhstan (Category III).
Flowering in April–May; fruiting June.
A complete species description of T. patens was published in 1829 by J. Roemer and J. Schultes (
Kazakhstan • ‘Prope fauces fluminis Kurtu inter saxa non rara in montibus Andrakai rarior’, April 1886, A. Krassnow s.n. (LE).
Endemic to Kazakhstan (
Balkhash-Alakol, and Chu-Ili range. This species grows on rocky, gravelly slopes and scree (800–1100 m a.s.l.).
Tulipa regelii is an endangered species at the global level (
Flowering in March–April; fruiting in May–June.
Tulipa regelii was described in 1887 by the prominent Russian botanical geographer A. N. Krasnov, who surveyed the Shu-Ili Mountains (where the species was collected from the Anyrakai and Kurti tracts). The species is named in honor of E.L. Regel, the director of the botanical garden in St. Petersburg (
Kazakhstan • Zhetysu region, the extreme southern part of Dzungarian Alatau (44°10'N, 79°31'E); sandy, saline soils within semi-desert habitat, c. 880 m.a.s.l.; leg. 05 May 2012, Rukšāns; cult. (12KZ-059 specimen grown in J. Rukšāns garden, Latvia), fl. 11 Apr. 2021, Rukšāns (holotype GB).
Endemic to Kazakhstan (
Dzungarian Alatau, and Trans-Ili Kungey Alatau. This species grows on fixed and hilly-ridged sands over brown and gray-brown soils, in depressions of takyrs and solonchaks with Saxaul.
The IUCN conservation status of this species requires assessment.
Flowering in March–April; fruiting in May–June.
Tulipa salsola was described relatively recently in 2022 from the southern part of Dungarian Alatau, Zhetysuyskaya Oblast, Kazakhstan. It is morphologically similar to T. kolbintsevii but differs by the presence of 2(–3) flowers, an adaxially strongly woolly bulb tunic, absent elongated bulb tunic, and stamens shorter or equal to the ovary (vs. one flower, naked on the neck with some hairs on the bulb tunic adaxially, elongated bulb tunic, and stamens longer than the ovary in T. kolbintsevii) (
Uzbekistan • Inter Bukhara et Kermine, A. Lehmann s.n. (holotype LE; isotypes K 000844627, P00730919, P00730920).
Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan (
Kyzylkum, Southern Ustyrt, Northern Ustyrt, and Mangyshlak. This species grows in deserts on sandy and clay soils.
The IUCN conservation status of this species requires assessment.
Flowering in March–April; fruiting in May–June.
Tulipa sogdiana was first described in 1854 by A.A. Bunge from a desert region between Bukhara and Kermin (Uzbekistan). In “Flora of Kazakhstan” (
Tulipa sogdiana in Kazakhstan A general habitat B flowers. (Photos: A by F. Shakula; https://www.plantarium.ru/page/image/id/766687.html); B by V. Epiktetov).
Kazakhstan • ‘Deserta Caspica’, Pallas (neotype BM!) [neotype designated by
Kazakhstan, Krym, North Caucasus, and Transcaucasus (
Aktobe, Turgay, Bukeev, Emba, Mugojary, Caspian region, Syrt, Tobol-Ishim, Western Upland, Aral region, and Ulytau. This species grows on steppe and semi-desert areas.
The IUCN conservation status of this species has not yet been assessed. It is included in the Red Book of Kazakhstan (Category III).
Flowering in March–April; fruiting in May–June.
This species is usually reported under T. schrenkii Regel, which was first described from the Yesil River valley in 1873. However, the older name T. suaveolens takes precedence (
Cultivated • Bulbs sent to Firma Van Tubergen, originally from Iran (Urmia) in 1928. A preserved flower from the Van Tubergen garden and associated original illustration are labeled as presented by the Editor of the Botanical Magazine to the Kew Herbarium (K).
Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Trans-Ili Kungey Alatau. This species grows on stony-gravelly and rocky slopes, steppe areas and thickets of shrubs in the lower mountain belt.
The IUCN conservation status of this species has not yet been assessed. It is included in the Red Book of Kazakhstan (Category II).
Flowering in April–May; fruiting June.
Kyrgyzstan • Turkestaniae in valle Kotschkura, Kaulbars, Baro (holotype LE, not located).
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and China (Xinjiang) (
Ketmen Terskey Alatau, and Trans-Ili Kungey Alatau. This species grows on stony slopes, and steppe areas in the lower and middle zones of the mountains.
Tulipa tetraphylla is a least concern species at the global level (
Flowering in April–May; fruiting in June –July.
Tulipa tetraphylla was described by E.L. Regel in 1875 from collections from Central Tian Shan (Kochkur River basin, Kyrgyzstan). Spontaneous hybrids with T. kolpakowskiana have also been reported (
Kazakhstan • Prov. Kostanay, Zhangeldin distr., pag. Turgay, 2 May 2009, Yu. Perezhogin (LE).
Endemic to Kazakhstan (
Aktobe, and Turgay. This species grows on dry, deserted clay steppes.
The IUCN conservation status of this species requires assessment.
Flowering in April–May; fruiting in June–July.
Tulipa turgaica was first invalidly described in 2013 by Yu. V. Perezhogin from Northern Kazakhstan (Turgai) and validated in 2014. This species is morphologically similar to T. biebersteiniana but differs by several flowers and grows in drier habitats (
Uzbekistan • ‘Chiwa’, Korolkow & Krause (COI-00050870) [lectotype designated by
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and China (Xinjiang) (
Western Tian Shan, Karatau. This species grows in clayey and gravelly slopes from the foothills to the alpine zone (800–3000 m a.s.l.).
Tulipa turkestanica is a least concern species at the global level (
Flowering in March–June; fruiting June –July.
Eduard Ludvigovich Regel originally described T. turkestanica as Tulipa sylvestris var. turkestanica Regel in 1873, but later reclassified it as an independent species in 1875 (
Uzbekistan • Grown in the Botanical Garden of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbek SSR from bulbs collected by Z.P. Botschantzeva in 1959 in the gorge in piedmonts of Greater Chimgan, on fine earth among stones, Botschantzeva 99 (holotype TASH000526!).
Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, and Uzbekistan.
Western Tian Shan. This species grows on rubbly and stony slopes in lower and middle mountain belts (1400–1700 m a.s.l.).
Not assessed at the global level. However, this nothospecies is not protected in Kazakhstan.
Flowering in April–May; fruiting June–July.
Tulipa × tschimganica was described in 1961 by Z.P. Botschantzeva from specimens grown in the Tashkent Botanical Garden from bulbs collected in Bolshoi Chimgan Gorge (Uzbekistan) (
Russia • “In Siberiae montis Sini Sopka”, E. Laxmann (LE; isoneotype K-000844631) [neotype designated by Levichev, 1997].
China (Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang), Kazakhstan, Russia (Altay, Chita, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Tuva), and Mongolia (
Altai, Tarbagatay, and Zaysan. This species grows in sandy places, gravelly slopes, and as shrubs from desert foothills to the upper belt of mountains.
Tulipa uniflora is a near threatened species at the global level (
Flowering in April–May; fruiting June –July.
This species was first described by Linnaeus in 1767 as Ornithogalum uniflorum L. from specimens collected from the Altai Mountains.
Kyrgyzstan • ‘Habitat in montibus Alexandricis (Tian-Shan)’, 14 June 1932, Vvedensky 280 (TASH).
Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan (
Tulipa zenaidae is a vulnerable species at the global level (
Flowering in April–May; fruiting May–July.
Tulipa zenaidae was described by A.I. Vvedensky in 1935 from Kyrgyz Ridge (Mount Shekule). The species was named in honor of Zinaida Botschantzeva, who devoted her life to studying Central Asian tulips (
The total number of Tulipa species varies according to the source, representing 90–120 species worldwide. Similarly, the number of tulips in Kazakhstan is 32–42, according to various sources. Therefore, we revisited the species diversity of Tulipa in Kazakhstan based on field observations, extensive herbarium specimens, and literature data. We confirmed that 41 tulip taxa are currently distributed in Kazakhstan, of which 13 species are endemic. The present study provides valuable information on the tulip species richness in Kazakhstan, focusing on taxonomic keys, historical notes, species diversity, point distribution maps (Figs
The authors thank the curators of all above mentioned herbaria for the opportunity to examine the material, as well as B. Wilson, J.J. de Groot and A.V. Dubynin for valuable advice. We would like to thank our colleagues (V. Kolbintsev, A. Tolenova, G. Bolbotov, N. Beshko, J.J. de Groot and J. Ruskans) for kindly sharing photos of the Tulipa species in this study. The authors would also like to thank the three anonymous reviewers for their insights, which helped improve the manuscript.
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
No ethical statement was reported.
This study was supported by research grants from the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant No. AP14870712), Taxonomic revision of polymorphic plant families of the flora of Uzbekistan (Grant No. FZ-20200929321), in the framework of scientific programs of the National Herbarium of Uzbekistan (TASH), CABCN Project by the Korea National Arboretum (Grant No. KNA1-1-26, 20-1), the Korea Basic Science Institute (National Facilities and Equipment Center) grant funded by the Ministry of Education (Grant No. 2023R1A6C101B022), and the Foundational and Protective Field of Studies Support Project at Changwon National University in 2024.
SAK and SB designed this study. SAK, DTA, VGE, and SKM collected the samples. NBA, ZTI, KSI, and GTS prepared the data. SB, SAK, NN, and ZT analyzed the data. SB, SAK, and NN wrote the original draft of the manuscript. SAK, SB, KT, AAI, HYG, and HJC revised the manuscript. All the authors have revised and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Serik A. Kubentayev https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0369-0591
Shukherdorj Baasanmunkh https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4224-9376
Daniyar T. Alibekov https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1555-1430
Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2846-5777
Nudkhuu Nyamgerel https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9110-423X
Anna A. Ivashchenko https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8526-4296
Zagarjav Tsegmed https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6024-4918
Vladimir G. Epiktetov https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5406-0568
Gulnara T. Sitpayeva https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4614-6155
Klara S. Izbastina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6418-1950
Zhansaya T. Idrissova https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3231-8518
Saule K. Mukhtubayeva https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5921-3113
Nurganym B. Abubakirova https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7503-0955
Hee-Young Gil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3714-0827
Hyeok Jae Choi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3644-6795
All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text or Supplementary Information.
Supplementary Information
Data type: doc
Explanation note: Sample list for phylogenetic analysis, summary of distribution and conservation status, and list of specimens examined.