5.4. Tulipa turkestanica Regel in Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 3(2): 296 (1875).

Type:— UZBEKISTAN. Chiwa, Korolkow & Krause s.n. (COI-00050870) [lectotype designated by Christenhusz et al. 2013: 325] .

Description:—Bulb ovoid, 1.5–2.0(2.5) cm thick; tunic blackish-brown or brown, coriaceous, the inner surface densely clothed with long silky hairs at the apex; stem 10–25 mm long, sometimes purplish-green, the upper part of stem and peduncle pubescent, rarely glabrous; leaves 2, scattered or more or less approximate, spreading, glabrous, ciliate, linear; basal leaf broader than the others, (5) 8–15 mm broad, usually exceeding the flowers, very rarely not reaching them; flowers 1–7, erect in bud, opening to a wide star; perigone segments white or creamy-white with yellow blotch, rarely yellow, 12–25 mm long, acute; outer segments lanceolate, dingy violet outside, rather gradually tapering into a claw, more or less bearded at base, ciliate, stamens half the length of perigone; filaments orange-yellow or yellow, cylindrical, densely bearded at the dilated base, glabrous or hairy above; anthers linear-oblong, 4–6 mm long, commonly yellow, rarely faintly violet, short-pointed; ovary slightly shorter than stamens, short-styled; capsule oblong or almost spherical, ca. 1.0 cm in diameter, 1.5–2 cm long (Fig. 12C).

General distribution:—Western Tian-Shan, Western Pamir-Alay (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan).

Distribution in Uzbekistan:—I-2 Fergana district (I-2-a South Chatkal region), I-3 Fergana-Alay district (I-3-b Eastern-Alay region), I-4 Nuratau district (I-4-a Nuratau region; I-4-b Aktau region; I-4-c Nuratau Relict Mountains), I-5 Kuhistan district (I-5-a North Turkestan region; I-5-b Malguzar region; I-5-c Urgut region; I-5-d Zirabulak-Ziadin region), I-6 Western Hissar district (I-6-a Kashkadarya region; I-6-b Tarkapchigay region; II-6-c Baysun region; I-6-d Kuhitang region; I-6-e Surkhan-Sherabad region), I-7 Hissar-Darvaz district (I-7-a Sangardak-Tupalang region).

Phenology:—Flowering: March–April (depending on elevation); fruiting: March–April.

Ecology: —Fine-earth, gravelly and stony slopes, from piedmonts to upper mountain zone, 500–3100 m a.s.l.

Etymology:—The species is named after Turkestan region, a historical name of Central Asia, which includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, and part of northern Afghanistan present-day (also known as Afghan Turkestan).

Note:—Not growing in Tian-Shan mountains, as marked by Wilford (2006). Yellow-flowered form of Tulipa turkestanica given in the book of Diana Everett (2013: 142) may belong to another species.

Specimens examined:— UZBEKISTAN: Fergana district, South Chatkal region, Chatkal Range, Uchkurgan steppe, 2.5 km from the railway station, Kugay south-east, 5 May 1928, Ioffe 368 (TASH!) . Fergana-Alay district, Eastern-Alay region, Alai Range, town Skobelev, on clayey plain, 18 March 1918, Arkhangelsky s.n. (TASH!) ; surroundings of the town Fergana, 10 March 1947, Shafeev s.n. (TASH!) ; surroundings of Fergana, on clay-gravelly soils, 25 March 1951, Sakhobutddinov s.n. (TASH!) ; village Iordan, 21 April 1959, Kovalevskaja s.n. (TASH!) ; right bank of the Blue Lake, 1700 m, steep cliffs, 26 March 1981, Shermatov, Kazakbaev, Levichev, Tagaev s. n (TASH!) ; Andijan district, the hills Bogishamol, recreation area Bogishamol, 22 March 2020, Tojibaev, Batashov, Karimov, Dekhkanov s.n. (TASH!) ; Nuratau district, Nuratau region, Nuratau Range, Kyzylchali, Artemisia steppe, 24 March 1913, Korovin s.n. (TASH!) ; Koytash, between villages Kokbulak and Amandara, 5 August 1934, Botschantzev s.n. (TASH!) ; Koytash, 2-3 km to north-west from the village Kokbulak, 18 July 1937, Demurina 598 (TASH!) ; Kyzylcha, clayey piedmont plain, 2 March 1952, Zaprometova s.n. (TASH!) ; Koblyatysay, 30 March 1952, Zaprometova s.n. (TASH!) ; 2.5 km south-east of Kyzylcha, 15 April 1954, Zaprometova s.n. (TASH!) ; Kyzylcha, piedmont plain, 1 April 1957, Novikova s.n. (TASH!) ; Kyzylcha, experimental plot, 23 March 1958, Galkina s.n. (TASH!) ; Kyzylcha, piedmont plain, May 1958, Galkina s.n. (TASH!) ; northern slope of Nuratau range, lower reaches of valley Ukhumsay, 31 March 1984, Petrochenko 84038 (herbarium of Nuratau Nature Reserve); Hayat valley, Andebaraut, 16 May 1984, Petrochenko 84039 (herbarium of Nuratau Nature Reserve); Nuratau Nature Reserve, Hayat valley, Zamezhak, 9 April 1984, Petrochenko 84040 (herbarium of Nuratau Nature Reserve); Nuratau Nature Reserve, Hayat valley, Andebaraut, 23 April 2007, Beshko 07027 (herbarium of Nuratau Nature Reserve); Nuratau Nature Reserve, Gurdara valley, 839 m, 17 March 2019, Beshko s.n. (TASH!) ; 2 km to the east from the pass Saurbel, 1240 m, 6 April 2019, Beshko s.n. (TASH!) ; Mt. Karatash, 690 m, 5 April 2019, Beshko s.n. (TASH!) ; Nuratau Nature Reserve, Madzherum valley, western slope, 850 m, 23 March 2020, Beshko NB 2020005 (TASH!) ; Nuratau Nature Reserve, Hayat valley, Andebaraut, 1490 m, 24 March 2020, Beshko NB 2020011 (TASH!) ; Aktau region, Aktau Range, surroundings of Nurata, Iris steppe, west of the town, 23 April 1913, Korovin s.n. (TASH!) ; Takhku-tau, 7 May 1913, Korovin s.n. (TASH!) ; 7–9 km south of the village Chuya, 1 July 1937, Demurina 402 (TASH!) ; near the village Chuya, rocky slopes, 1 August 1937, Mironov 63 (TASH!) ; near the pass Tekelyk, 3 km south of the village Sarygul, northern slopes, 12 May 1957, Momotov, Li 316 (TASH!) ; piedmont plain near the town Nurata, 11 March 1963, Markova s. n (TASH!) ; Karatau Range, Karakarga pass, 730 m, 19 March 2013, Tojibaev, Shomurodov, Beshko, Batashov s.n. (TASH!) ; Nuratau Relic Mountains, Pistalitau, 2011, Batashov; southern part of Balyklytau, 2011, Batashov; Pistalitau, north slope, 3 April 2012, Batashov s.n. (TASH!) ; Pistalitau, north side of Chimkurgan, 18 April 2012, Batashov s.n. (TASH!) ; Kuhistan district, North Turkestan region, Turkestan Range, station Ursatjevskaja, loess plain, 1 April 1921, Vvedensky 71 (MW) ; 4 km to the north-west from the Milyutinskaya railway station, May 1930, Tarasevich 52 (TASH!) ; top of Aktash-tau, 17 June 1934, Zakrzhevsky 138 (TASH!) ; Guralash pass near the Langar road, 27 May 1935, Zakrzhevsky 177, 179 (TASH!) ; Kulsay, north-east red sandstone slopes, 11 May 1938, Korotkova 8 (TASH!) ; at the confluence of Katta-Shibirly-Say and Lyangarsay, 17 May 1938, Korotkova 55 (TASH!) ; on the watershed between Kulsay and Guralashsay, 3000–3100 m, May 1938, Korotkova s.n. (TASH!) ; Guralashsay, southern gravelly slopes, 12 May 1938, Demurina s.n (TASH!) ; region of the station Ursatjevskaja, 2 April 1954, Zaprometova (TASH!) ; Malguzar region, Malguzar Range, hills on the right bank of the river Sanzar, 2 April 1921, Vvedensky 132, 139 (TASH!) ; right banks of the river Sanzar, foothills, 2 May 1921, Vvedensky 132 (TASH!) ; surroundings of Dzhizak, on the rocky slopes in the valley of Sanzar, 6 March 1925, Vvedensky s.n. (TASH!) ; mountains Malguzar, 2 km west of the peak 2010 m, 9 August 1937, Demurina 1645 (TASH!) ; 2 km to north-east from wintering Kichik-karashahshak, grasslands, 28August 1939, Demurina 1309 (TASH!) ; Urgut region, Zerafshan Range, in the steppe near Agalyk, 12 April 1920, Gomolitsky s.n. (TASH!) ; Agalyk, April 1925, Repeynikov s.n. (TASH!) ; near the village Sazagan, belov the pass Urtabel, 12 May 1925, Popov 224 (TASH!) ; Aman-Kutan Pass, Yulsay, gravelly slopes, 3 April 1931, Nikanorov s.n. (TASH!) ; AmanKutan Pass, Yulsay, gravelly slopes, 6 April 1931, Nikanorov s.n. (TASH!) ; Aman-Kutan Pass, Yulsay, 9 May 1931, Nikanorov s.n. (TASH!) ; vicinity of the Aksay village, mountain slope near the village, 5 May 1931, Butkov 43, 132a (TASH!) ; Chupan-Ata, March 1932, Valnev s.n. (TASH!) ; Aman-Kutan forestry, near the pass, 25 May 1933, Drobov, Sakhobiddinov 43 (TASH!) ; pass Kamangaran, 29 March 1935, Komarov s.n. (TASH!) ; surroundings of Urgut, under the peak Saryktash, 2 May 1936, Gnezdillo 30, 34 (TASH!) ; Mount Kuhi-Surkh, Ak-Bai-Jum Pass, near snow on gravelly soil, 18 May 1936, Gnezdillo 85 (TASH!) ; Agalyk, 6–7 April 1941, Zakirov s.n. (TASH!) ; below the TakhtaKaracha Pass, 1 April 1958, Vvedensky, Kovalevskaja, Tscherneva 36 (TASH!) ; below the Takhta-Karacha pass, 11 April 1958, Vvedensky, Kovalevskaja, Tscherneva 36 (TASH!) ; Takhta-Karacha Pass, 11 April 1958, Khalikov 1 (TASH!) ; the top of the Aman-Kutan Pass, 20 April 1965, Pryakhin s.n. (LE) ; Zirabulak-Ziadin region, region Bukhara– Karnab, mountains Malik, 13 April 1913, Sprygin s.n. (LE) ; Zerabulak, rocky slopes of the main ridge, 24 May 1928, Lepeshkin s.n. (TASH!) ; Zirabulak mountains, 10 km south of the railway station Karmana (Navoi), 23 May 1964, Zuckervanik 175 (TASH!) ; Western Hissar district, Kashkadarya region, Hissar Range, surroundings of Tashkurgan, Kapyrsay, gypsum slopes, 7 April 1936, Botschansev, Butkov 654, 742 (TASH!) ; surroundings of village Tashkurgan, outcrops of variegated beds in the tract Turka, near the pass Kyzyl-Gaza, in juniper forests, 21 June 1936, Botschansev, Butkov 180 (TASH!) ; from the Chekmen-Kuydy pass to Tashkurgan, 18 June 1936, Botschantsev, Butkov 10, 13 (TASH!) ; basin of the river Tangimush, subalpine belt, juniper forest with subalpine species, 8 April 1937, Kudryashev 1417 (TASH!) ; 5 km to the southeast from Kyzyl-Imchak, on the northern slopes, 3000 m, unknown s.n. (TASH!) ; 6–8 km to the west, north-west from the village Kyzyl-Tam, 10 June 1941, Koshurnikova 310 (TASH!) ; Chekmen-Kuydy pass, 11 May 1961, Abdukhamidov s.n. (TASH!) ; Kyzylsu Nature Reserve, Aksu, in the middle mountain zone, juniper forest, 4 May 1977, Malakhov s.n. (TASH!) ; Tarkapchigay region, Hissar Range, valley Kichik-uru, between Gumbulak and Tangikhoram, 1913, Mikhelson 75 (TASH!, MW); the Dultaly-Kyzyl tract, near the village Kyzylcha village, clayey slopes, 23 April 1935, Lepeshkin s.n. (TASH!) ; Belesy-ipak, near the spring Tashbulak, 22 April 1935, Gnezdillo 58 (TASH!) ; mountains south of Guzar, hills north of Kyzylcha, western slopes, 26 May 1935, Kudryashev 220 (TASH!) ; pass Kara-dzhaldy, 5 April 1936, Gnezdillo s.n. (TASH!) ; foothills of Hissar Range, surroundings of Dekhkanabad, ca. 800 m, 3 April 2015, Beshko s.n. (TASH!) ; Baysun region, Hissar Range, Khodzha-gurgur-ata, southeastern slopes in the Gorbulak village, 1 July 1934, Butkov 21 (TASH!) ; variegated low mountains between Baysun and Denau, Tashkak, outcrops of variegated beds, 27 April 1930, Botschansev, Vvedensky 339 (TASH!) ; Taka-Sakyrt mountains, slopes of red outcrops, sandstones, 14April 1941, Popova 53 (TASH!) ; Kuhitang region, surroundings of Sherabad, Shir Khotan, gypsum slopes, 28 April 1930, Lepeshkin s.n. (TASH!) ; Tangi-Duval, stony slopes, 15 May 1976, Pratov, Zuckerwanik, Makhmedov 278 (TASH!) ; Surkhan Nature Reserve, Shalkan plot, northern and southern slopes ov the valley Shalkan, 23 March 2007, Ibragimov 0180 (TASH!) ; Surkhan-Sherabad region, Kelif-Sherabad Ridge, near village Gaz, 582 m, 8 March 2020, Beshko NB 2020002 (TASH!) ; Hissar-Darvaz district, SangardakTupalang region, Chulbair mountains, rocky slopes above the village Sina, 24 April 1928, Vvedensky s.n. (TASH!) ; 0.5 km below the village Gazarak, eastern rocky slopes, 15 June 1948, Pjataeva 392 (TASH!) ; 1.5 km below the village Gazarak, eastern rocky slopes, 15 June 1948, Pjataeva 392 (TASH!) ; surroundings of the village Kufar, soft slopes of foothills, 5 March 1948, Bondarenko 412 (TASH!) .