Tulipa jacquesii Zonn., 2015

Zonneveld, Ben J. M., 2015, Tulipa jacquesii (Liliaceae), a new species from Western Kyrgyzstan, Phytotaxa 218 (2), pp. 184-188 : 185-187

Tulipa jacquesii Zonn. sp. nov. ( Fig. 1a–1f ).

It differs from related species (see Table 1), by the weak ridges on the leaf, its nearly glabrous tepals, its fragrance, and by bearing up to four flowers (not single or up to eight), by a papery bulb tunic (not leathery), and always having only two leaves (not up to eight as in T. tarda ).

Type:— KYRGYZSTAN. Kala, Chatkal range of the Tien Shan, Western Kyrgyzstan, 2012, cult. Jacques J. de Groot s.n. (holotype L!).

Plant erect in all stages, up to 15 cm. Subterranean part of the stem ca. 15 cm, aerial part (scape) ca. 6 cm greenish brown, glabrous with 1–4 flowers. Bulb 29 mm in diameter (culture), papery, light brown, tunic inside almost hairless and with a fibrous extension up to the soil surface. Two leaves, short, produced at ground level. The lower leaf ovate, dark green with brownish margins without hairs, 95 × 34. Upper leaf 85 × 26 mm. In nature, the leaves have the upper surface of the leave with ridges, reminding of T. regelii . Tepals ovate, nearly glabrous. Inner and outer tepals inside white with a yellow spot at the base covering 40 % of the tepals. The flowers have a pleasant smell. Outer tepals tapering to a point 23 × 7 mm, outside purple grey to grey at the base, margins white. Inside white with a yellow basal spot covering about 40%. At the base is a yellow honey mark. Inner tepals 23 × 9 mm with a short claw, outside white with a pale yellow basal spot over 40% and a grey mid vein. Inside white with a yellow basal spot over 40%. On the margins of the claw some short hairs. Stamens 14–15 mm long, with filaments 7 mm long, narrow triangular, yellow with a white base, the broadened base covered with short white hairs, above the hairy base a few hairs. Anthers pale yellow with usually a dark tip. Ovary shorter than stamens at flowering, light green and bottle shaped, 10 mm long, with a yellow hairy stigma and slightly exposed lobes.

Etymology:—This tulip is dedicated to Jaccques J. de Groot who made many expeditions to tulip bearing countries. He is therefore an eminent connoisseur of the wild tulip flora.

Distribution and habitat:—Known only from its type locality in the Chatkal range of the Tien Shan in Western Kyrgyzstan. It grows on whitish clay soil, together with T. ferganica Vvedensky (1935:148) .

Phenology:—Flowering in March–April, both in nature and in the garden. The flowers opens in the afternoon, similarly to T. kolbintsevii .

Genome size:—The new species has a genome size of 2C = 51.9 pg, falling in the same range of the other 16 species of the section Biflores , with 2C ranging from 48.0 to 59.4 pg ( Zonneveld 2009; Veldkamp & Zonneveld 2012). Tulipa jacquesii is putatively diploid.

Taxonomic relationships:— Kyrgyzstan is fairly rich in tulip species with about 16 species. This new white flowered tulip belongs to section Biflores which includes 15 other species ( Zonneveld 2009, Veldkamp & Zonneveld 2012). Tulipa jacquesii is similar to T. regelii , but the latter species has different bulb tunics, is single flowered and has unique strong ridges on the upper side of the leaf, less evident in T. jacquesii . Moreover, the tepals are nearly glabrous, a unique feature in section Biflores . The fruit features are reminiscent of T. dasystemon .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Pictures of Tulipa jacquesii in the wild and in the garden.1a. Tulipa jacquesiigrowing in the wild. (all pictures by J.J.de Groot). 1b. Tulipa jacquesii in the wild, showing length of white underground stem and fibres. 1c. Tulipa jacquesii in the wild, showing ridges on the leaf. 1d. Details of the dissected flower of Tulipa jacquesii in the garden (de Zilk, The Netherlands). 1e. Bulbs of Tulipa jacquesii from the garden (de Zilk, The Netherlands). 1f. Details of the flower of Tulipa jacquesii as growing in de Zilk, The Netherlands.