Hemerocallis fulva (L.) L. 1762

Sennikov, Alexander & Lazkov, Georgy, 2022, The first checklist of alien vascular plants of Kyrgyzstan, with new records and critical evaluation of earlier data. Contribution 2, Biodiversity Data Journal 10, pp. 80804-80804 : 80804

Hemerocallis fulva (L.) L. 1762

Hemerocallis fulva (L.) L., Sp. Pl., ed. 2, 1: 462 (1762) - Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus var. fulva L., Sp. Pl. 1: 324 (1753).

Distribution

Native distribution

Central and Southern China, Korea, Japan.

Secondary distribution

North America, New Zealand (neophyte); Europe, Western and Southern Asia (archaeophyte).

In Europe, the ornamental cultivation of the species has a long history, recorded as common in Britain by Gerard (1597) and in Central Europe by L'Obel (1576) and Clusius (1601) already in the 16th century. It is currently known as naturalised in many countries, including Great Britain ( Clement and Foster 1994) and Belgium ( Verloove 2021).

Hemerocallis fulva was common in the North American ornamental cultivation since the late 19th century; now it became invasive in several states of the USA, occurring along roadsides and river banks ( Pennsylvania Flora Database 2021).

Distribution in Central Asia

Escaped from traditional ornamental cultivation in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

The species was known from subspontaneous occurrences in Kyrgyzstan ( Nikitina 1951, Pazij 1971). Its presence in Uzbekistan has not been mentioned in literature, but unpublished herbarium specimens (deposited at LE) were collected from the vicinities of Charvak Village, Tashkent Region (in 1899) and Qora-Qo'rg'on Village, Namangan Region (in 1912).

In historical times, a major part of the mountainous Central Asia, with its highly developed culture in populated oases, was known as Transoxiana (in Latin) or Mavarannahr (in Arabic). This territory, subordinated to various major contemporary states but being de facto autonomous, became the Khanate (then Emirate and finally Republic) of Buxoro from the 16th century until 1924. It included two major cities, Buxoro and Samarqand. The Khanate of Buxoro was characterised by extensive cultivation of numerous fruits, vegetables, ornamental and medicinal plants, which were recorded by early European travellers and native writers of Buxoro and Samarqand (e.g. Meyendorff 1826, Abu Tahir Kojo 1899).

The cultivation of Hemerocallis fulva in Samarqand was recorded by Olga Fedtschenko in 1869 ( Regel 1876). This species, therefore, belongs to the ornamental cultivation of the Khanate of Buxoro, predating the Russian colonisation of the country. Its feral occurrences were recorded in the lower mountains surrounding the Fergana Depression in the early 1870s ( Regel 1876), thus indicating that the species was capable of running wild, long before the beginning of the botanical records.

As evident from herbarium records (collections of A. Regel at LE, dated 1877), the species was cultivated also in Qulja [Yining], Xinjiang, China. This means that its historical cultivation apparently included also the agricultural areas of northern Kyrgyzstan.

Since the Khanate of Buxoro maintained close connections and trade of medicinal and other plants with India ( Meyendorff 1826), we assume that Hemerocallis fulva was originally imported from that country; its broad distribution suggests the early period of introduction. It is also possible that the species was first imported as a vegetable, for its edible flowers and fleshy rhizomes ( Li 1970), and was subsequently turned into an ornamental.

Currently, the species is very commonly cultivated in Central Asia (Fig. 10 ), although seemingly from some commercial sources, different from the historical cultivation. Its recent subspontaneous populations are not recorded.

Distribution in Kyrgyzstan

Western Tian-Shan, Alay-Turkestan (Fig. 11 ).

The species was found along rivers and irrigation ditches in the lower mountain belt (950-1100 m a.s.l.) near populated places surrounding the Fergana Depression.

Ecology

Riversides in forests and grasslands in the native distribution area; stream sides, road sides and grasslands in the secondary distribution area.

In China, the species was recorded at altitudes of 300-2500 m ( Chen and Noguchi 2000). In the secondary distribution area, it was recorded in the Indian Himalayas as high as 1600-2200 m above sea level ( Khuroo et al. 2006), whereas in the Caucasus it occurred mostly at lower altitudes ( Grossheim 1940). According to herbarium specimens, the historical localities of Hemerocallis fulva in Central Asia were situated at 700-1100 m above sea level.

Biology

Rhizomatous perennial. Flowers opening diurnal half-day, due to specialisation to diurnal moths ( Hirota et al. 2021). Easily propagated by rhizomes, resulting in monoclonal cultivation ( Stout 1921). Plants in cultivation are largely sterile, with undeveloped seed capsules ( Grier 1914), which is explained by their triploid chromosome number ( Stout 1932). Such triploid clones may naturally occur in the wild ( Matsuoka 1971).

Notes

According to the specimens examined, the traditional cultivation in Central Asia was represented by at least two forms; one was slender with narrow leaves and the other was more robust. The fruits were not developed, thus indicating triploidy. Double-flowered forms were not observed.

Introduction to Kyrgyzstan

Period of introduction

Archaeophyte.

The species was common in ornamental cultivation in the Khanate of Buxoro, and found in the territories around the Fergana Depression that belonged to this state. This introduction is at least some centuries old.

Pathways of introduction

Escape from confinement: Ornamental purpose other than horticulture.

Although the plant is edible, its latest historical use was ornamental cultivation in private gardens ( Regel 1876).

Invasion status

Locally naturalised, maintained by vegetative reproduction (colonophyte).

In Kyrgyzstan, feral populations of the species were known along rivers and irrigation ditches near populated places, from the area of semi-wild apple and walnut forests at the lower belt in the north-western part of the Fergana Range ( Pazij 1971). These populations had been repeatedly sampled from the early 1870s till 1927 (Fig. 12 ), thus indicating their conspicuousness. Although these territories belong to the most visited and intensely studied areas in the country (e.g. Sukachev 1949), no further collections or observations originated in the latest 95 years; this indicates that the populations had significantly declined or even disappeared. Their current status or even existence have not been verified; the old feral populations may be currently extinct.

Evidence of impact

Agriculture - no impact (not weedy). Native ecosystems - minor impact (colonising riversides near populated places). Urban areas - minor impact (colonising irrigation ditches in populated places).

Trend

Declining (inferred).

Figures

Figure 10. Hemerocallis fulva in modern ornamental cultivation in Tashkent Region, Uzbekistan (photo by T. Tillaev, 28 June 2018). Source: https: // www. plantarium. ru / page / image / id / 582460. html (Plantarium 2021).

Figure 11. Historical records of Hemerocallis fulva in Kyrgyzstan.

Figure 12. The last historical specimen of Hemerocallis fulva from Kyrgyzstan (MW 0813045).