Tulipa korolkowii Regel

Tojibaev, Komiljon, Dekhkonov, Davron, Ergashov, Ibrokhimjon, Sun, Hang, Deng, Tao & Yusupov, Ziyoviddin, 2022, The synopsis of the genus Tulipa (Liliaceae) in Uzbekistan, Phytotaxa 573 (2), pp. 163-214 : 178-179

2.3. Tulipa korolkowii Regel in Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 3(2): 295. (1875).

Type:— UZBEKISTAN. Habitat in solo lutoso in desertis inter Turkestaniam et Khiwam prope Farisch , Korolkow et Krause s.n. (holotype LE!) .

Description:—Bulb elongate-ovoid, 1.5–2.0 cm thick; tunic tough, coriaceous, almost scaly, black, prolonged (sometimes considerably), inside at the top lanate-hairy; stem up to 10–20 cm long (sometimes flowers almost sessile), the stem and peduncle glabrous, blue-greenish; leaves 3, approximate to more or less widely spaced, glaucous, curled, grooved, progressively decreasing in size up the stem, commonly exceeding the flower; lower leaf linear-lanceolate or strap-shaped, 0.5–1.0 cm broad, upper leaf narrowly linear; flower solitary, cup-shaped to star-shaped; usually red, sometimes yellow-red or yellow, (2)3–5(6) cm long, commonly obtuse, sometimes with a very short pubescent tip, with a small black blotch without yellow margin obtuse, truncate or three-pointed basal blotch (or without blotch in yellow form); outer segments rhomboidal or obovate; inner segments obovate to triangular-obovate; stamens two-fifths the length of perigone; filaments commonly black in the lower part and purple in the upper part, sometimes entirely black or purple (black, black-yellow or yellow in the motley and yellow form); anthers yellow, one half to two-thirds as long as filaments; pollen commonly yellow; ovary greenish or pinkish, one and a half times shorter than the stamens, stigma sessile, overlapping the ovary, pale yellow; capsule 2 cm long, ovate, with a short beak.

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

Distribution in Uzbekistan:—I-1 Western Tian-Shan district (I-1-d Kurama region; I-1-f Tashkent region), I-4 Nuratau district (I-4-a Nuratau region; I-4-b Aktau region; I-4-c Nuratau Relic Mountains), I-5 Kuhistan district (I-5-a North Turkestan region; I-5-b Malguzar region; I-5-d Zirabulak-Ziadin region; I-5-c Urgut region), I-6 Western Hissar district (I-6-a Kashkadarya region; I-6-b Tarkapchigay region; I-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), I-8 Panj district (I-8-a Babatag region), II-3 Kyzylkum district (II-3-a Kyzylkum region).

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

Ecology:—Gravelly and stony slopes, rocks, outcrops of variegated beds, from piedmonts up to subalpine zone, 400–2200 m a.s.l.

Etymology:—The species is named after N. Korolkow (1843–1933)—general of the Russian army, the author of scientific works on beekeeping and etymology, and naturalist-amateur who studied the flora and fauna of Central Asia. He was the initiator and leader of the establishement of forest plantations on the slopes of the Zeravshan Range (Amankutan forestry). According to some sources, he invented and applied the terracing method in forestry. In city of New Margilan (Fergana Valley), thousands of garden roses and paulownia grew in his garden, which struck his British guest, L. Denmore in 1893. E. Regel described this species in 1875 on the material collected by Korolkow and Krause near town of Farish (Nuratau Range, Uzbekistan) ( Fig. 5B ).

Note:—Two more taxa related to T. korolkowii Regel (1875: 295) have been described from Central Asia, and their taxonomical status is a subject of discussion. They are T. rosea Vvedensky (1935: 343) which grows in north Tajikistan (in the western part of Fergana Valley), and T. nitida Hoog (1902: 350) widespread in Western Pamir-Alay and South-Western Tian-Shan (in the same areas as T. korolkowii ). In the «Flora of USSR» (1935) and «Flora of Uzbekistan » (1941), Vvedensky gave T. korolkowii , T. nitida and T. rosea as three geographically separated species, and reported the first of them for foothills of South-Western Tian-Shan and Northern Pamir-Alay, the second species – for Western and South-Western Pamir-Alay, and the third species – for the western part of Fergana Valley. However, he noted that the morphological differences between T. korolkowii (leaves exceeding the flower, smaller flower, black filaments, greenish ovary) and T. nitida (strongly curled leaves not exceeding the flower, larger flower pendulous in the bud, black or pink filaments, pinkish ovary) are unclear and the separation of these two species is artificial. Later, in “Conspectus Florae Asiae Mediae” (1971), T. nitida has been treated by Vvedensky & Kovalevskaja as a synonym of T. korolkowii . Based on the results of flow cytometry, Zonneveld (2009) regarded T. korolkowii and T. nitida as two distinct species and T. rosea as T. korolkowii f. rosea (Vvedensky) Zonneveld (2009: 244) . Christenhusz et al. (2013) considered T. nitida and T. rosea as synonyms of T. korolkowii . According to J.J. de Groot’s personal communication, in the same conditions ex-situ, T. nitida and T. korolkowii f. rosea bloom earlier than T. korolkowii . Concerning T. korolkowii and T. nitida , our long-term surveys in natural habitats and observations in ex situ living collection of TASH and Tashkent Botanical Garden showed that such characters as more or less curled leaves, the length of stem, leaves, and tepals are variable depending on habitat and climatic conditions. Dwarf plants with strongly curled approximate leaves exceeding almost sessile flower occur on open dry stony places, while the plants growing on fine soils in relatively humid and shady places usually are more or less tall, with slightly undulate leaves not exceeding the flower. As for colour of filaments and ovary, plants with black, purple, and bicolour black-purple filaments as well as greenish and pinkish ovary can be found in the same population. As regards tulip with pink or crimson flowers which has been treated as T. rosea in above mentioned classical works, we were unable to find any materials confirming the presence of this taxon within the present-day boundaries of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Specimens examined:— Western Tian-Shan district, Kurama region, Kurama range, upper Abjazsay , southern slopes, juniper forest, 16 June 1939, Kudrjashev 686 ( TASH!) ; Belyaut River basin, 6 km to north-east from Kuraish village , 29 May 1953, Maylun, Nabiev, Zuckerwanik 581 ( TASH!) ; 0.5 km to east from Sardob village , among stones, 27 April 1954, Vernik, Nabiev, 110 ( TASH!) ; Abjazsay, Uchbov , 23 April 2004, Tojibaev s.n. ( TASH!) ; Abjazsay, Ilonlisay , 24 April 2004, Tojibaev s.n. ( TASH!) ; Abjazsay, near the Kendir pass, 24 April 2007, Tojibaev s.n. ( TASH!) ; Chatkal Range, top of the ridge, on the valley Itelge , 3000 m, southern slopes, 18 June 1931, Mackewicz 146 ( TASH!) ; surroundings of the city Tashkent, near the village Mayski , 26 March 2019, Gaziev s.n. ( TASH!) ; Nuratau district, Nuratau region , in solo lutoso in desertis inter Turkestaniam et Khiwam prope Farisch, 1873, Korolkow & Krause s.n. ( LE) ; Karasay , nouth-eastern slopes, 14 April 1954, Zaprometova s.n. ( TASH!) ; Alaysay, 25 March 1958, Galkina s.n. ( TASH!) ; Karasay , nouthern-eastern slopes, 14April 1954, Zaprometova s.n. ( TASH!) ; 3 km to south from the Midjigan village , 15 May 1958, Li, Zakirov 580 ( TASH!) ; 2 km to south from the pass Saurbel , 27 April 1958, Li, Zakirov 139, 158 ( TASH!) ; 2 km to south from the village Ustakhan , 25 May 1958, Li, Zakirov 813 ( TASH!) ; plateau, on quartz sand, 10 May 1958, Li, Zakirov 466 ( TASH!) ; Kyzylcha , 400 m, 12 April 1960, Leonova s.n. ( LE) ; upper reaches of the valley Pitau , surroundings of the village, Artemisia steppe, 26 May 1964, Zuckerwanik 231 ( TASH!) ; Mt. Zargar , northern slopes, 27 April 1979, Borjaev, Pimenov, Kljuykov, Vassilieva 67 ( MW) ; Nuratau Nature Reserve, valley Hayat, 21 April 1983, Fominykh 83036, 83047 (herbarium of Nuratau Nature Reserve ); Nuratau Nature Reserve , Hayat valley , Andebaraut , 28April 1983, Petrochenko 83048 (herbarium of Nuratau Nature Reserve ); valley Sentabsay , 12 May1984, Petrochenko 84037 (herbarium of Nuratau Nature Reserve ); Nuratau Nature Reserve , Hayat valley , 15 April 1992, Beshko 92024, 92025 (herbarium of Nuratau Nature Reserve ); Nuratau Nature Reserve , valley Fuzhaksay , 19 April 1993, Beshko 93009 (herbarium of Nuratau Nature Reserve ); Nuratau Nature Reserve , valley Karysay , Pub , 16 March 1993, Beshko 93032 (herbarium of Nuratau Nature Reserve ); Nuratau Nature Reserve , watershed between Hayatsay and Andygensay, 3 May 1993, Beshko 93011 (herbarium of Nuratau Nature Reserve ); Hayatbashi , 1800– 2100 m, 6 May 2005, Tojibaev; Hayatsay , Novi Khushk, 1300 m, 06.05.2012, Beshko; Asrafsay river basin, left bank, 06 April 2013, Tojibaev s.n. ( TASH!) ; the watershed of Sobsay and Sentabsay , 1434 m, 9 May 2013, Beshko s.n. ( TASH!) ; Pistalisay, 765 m, 19 March 2013, Tojibaev , Shomurodov, Beshko, Batoshov s.n. ( TASH!) ; Hayat valley, surroundings of village Upper Hayat , stony slope, 1115 m, about 10–15 km to the south-west of the locus classicus (near Farish), 17 March 2019, Beshko s.n. ( TASH!) ; between villages Egiz-Bulak and Karatash , 500 m, 25 March 2019, Beshko s.n. ( TASH!) ; Nuratau Nature Reserve, Madzherum valley , eastern slope, 800 m, 18 April 2019, Beshko s.n. ( TASH!) ; Nuratau Nature Reserve, Madzherum valley , western slope, 877 m, 18 April 2019, Beshko s.n. ( TASH!) ; Nuratau Nature Reserve, Madzherum valley , western slope, 940 m, 23 March 2020, Beshko NB 2020007 ( TASH!) ; Nuratau Nature Reserve, upper part of Andygen valley, Sukhta , 1630 m, 24 March 2020, Beshko NB 2020012 ( TASH!) ; Aktau region, Aktau Range, Bakhiltau mountains , 7 April 1963, Khaydarov 315 ( TASH!) ; Aktau , 6 April 1963, Khaydarov 295 ( TASH!) ; Chashma , 3 April 1963, Khaydarov 276 ( TASH!) ; Bakhiltau mountains , watershed, 930 m, 10 May 2013, Beshko s.n. ( TASH!) ; Karatau Range, Karakarga pass, 730 m, 19 March 2013, Tojibaev, Shomurodov, Beshko, Batoshov s.n. ( TASH!) ; Karakarga pass, 8April 2013, Tojibaev s.n. ( TASH!) ; 2.5 km to west from the Karakarga pass, middle part of slopes, 775 m, 4 May 2013, Tojibaev, Beshko, Batoshov, Azimova s.n. ( TASH!) ; Nuratau Relic Mountains, Pistalitau , 8 April 1911, Dimo, Sprigin, Shulga s. n ( TASH!) ; Pistalitau, 9 April 1913, Kultiassov s.n. ( TASH!) ; remnant mountain Egarbelistag , watershed, 560 m, 3 May 2013, Tojibaev, Beshko, Batoshov, Azimova s.n. ( TASH!) ; central part of Pistalitau, 18 March 2013, Tojibaev , Shomurodov, Beshko, Batoshov s.n. ( TASH!) ; Kuhistan district, North Turkestan region, Turkestan Range , Sulyuk Ata , gravelly slopes, 18 May 1931, Nikiforov s. n ( TASH!) ; Zaamin , between Dugoba and Urukly, 3 April 1983, Khalkuziev s. n ( TASH!) ; above the village Kovun-kesdi , southern slopes, 3 April 1983, Khalkuziev s.n. ( TASH!) ; Zaamin district, Tashbulak , 21 April 2012, Azimova s.n. ( TASH!) ; Malguzar region, Malguzar Range, foothills near the Dzijjak railway station, 28 April 1913, Androssov s.n. ( TASH!) ; left bank of Sanzar River , 4 April 1921, Vvedensky 174 ( TASH!) ; foothills near to the town Dzijjak , 4 April 1921, Korovin 57 ( TASH!) ; Zirabulak-Ziadin region, Kizbibi mountain , upper part of the northern slopes, 650 m, 4 May 2013, Tojibaev, Beshko, Batoshov, Azimova s.n. ( TASH!) ; Urgut region, Zerafshan Range, surroundings of Agalik , mountain slopes, 12 April 1920, Zakirov s.n. ( TASH!) ; surroundings of Aksay village , mountain slopes to the village, 15-20 April 1931, Butkov 246 ( TASH!) ; surroundings of Urgut, Mts. Alla-Iran , eastern slopes, 1 May 1936, Gnezdillo 3, 7 ( TASH!) ; Agalyk , 6-7 April 1941, Zakirov s.n. ( TASH!) ; Western Hissar district, Kashkadarya region, Hissar Range , Yakkabag River basin, 1.5 km to south-west from village Tatar, 21 May 1931, Granitov 913 ( TASH!) ; Tashkurgan, Kapirsay , gypsum slopes, 4 July 1936, Botschantzev, Butkov 611 ( TASH!) ; middle part of Tankhas river basin, slopes near Atchigi , 17 June 1937, Kudryashev 555 ( TASH!) ; Ishkent , gravelly slopes, 2000 m, 20 April 1942, Arnoldi s.n. ( TASH!) ; upper part of Aksu river basin, surroundings of Suvtushar , 16 June 1957, Adylov 518 ( TASH!) ; Yakkabag, Kyzyl-kishlak mountains , 3 May 1964, Khalikov 57 ( TASH!) ; Langar river basin, between Kyzyl Kishlak and Kyzyl Machit villages, 14 May 1972, Nabiev, Shermatov, Kazakbaev 47 ( TASH!) ; upper reaches of river Aksu, between villages Kul and Hissarak , 1542 m, 4 May 2019, Beshko s.n. ( TASH!) ; Tarkapchigay region, Hissar Range, southern slopes near to the Lulialvasti village , 5April 1935, Lepeshkin 21 ( TASH!) ; to north from the village Karakamar , red clay screes, 4 May 1935, Gnezdillo 69 ( TASH!) ; southern slopes of Mts. Nagarakhana , 5 April 1935, Lepeshkin 24, 27 ( TASH!) ; Tally pass, surroundings of Zindansay , 11 April 1977, Kamelin, Mikhaylova, Mishenkova, Solovjev 110, 114 ( LE) ; between Tarkapchigay and Tally pass, near the road, 8 April 2012, Tojibaev s.n. ( TASH!) ; Baysun region, Hissar Range, low montains of the Baysun , to east from the town, 21.05.1930, Lepeshkin; Buryu-Takht, to south from Pitau, 13 April 1930, Lepeshkin s.n. ( TASH!) ; variegated low mountains between Baysun and Denau, surroundings of Tashkak , stony slopes, 3 May 1930, Botschantzev, Vvedensky 88 ( TASH!) ; Khodzha-Gurgurata mountains, Kizilkultik , 3 June 1934, Butkov s.n. ( TASH!) ; Taka-Sakirt mountains , red coloured slopes, 14 April 1941, Popova 59 ( TASH!) ; Ketmenchapti, mountain pass, on the Baysun – Derbent , 19 April 1977, Kamelin et al. 27 ( LE) ; basin of the river Machay-darya, surroundings of the village Yukory Machay , 19 April 2014, Turginov s.n. ( TASH!) ; Kuhitang region, Kuhitang Range, dry foothills near village Bulak , 1 May 1915, Popov 385 ( TASH!) ; 15 km from village Shurob village to the village Khamkan , juniper forest, 14 May 1976, Pratov, Zuckerwanik, Makhmedov 226, 234, 249 ( TASH!) ; Tangi-Duval , stony slopes, 15 May 1976, Pratov, Zuckerwanik, Makhmedov 278, 289 ( TASH!) ; Surkhan-Sherabad region, Kelif-Sherabad Ridge, near village Gaz , 582 m, 8 March 2020, Beshko NB 2020001 ( TASH!) ; Hissar-Darvaz district, Sangardak-Tupalang region, Hissar Range , Chulbair mountains , village Sina, 25 April 1928, Vvedensky 235 ( TASH!) ; surroundings of village Sina, upper part of Kuruksay , 22 May 1929, Vvedensky 33 ( TASH!) ; surroundings of town Denau, tugay along the river Surkhandarya , 26 June 1936, Lepeshkin, Mukhamedjanov 246 ( TASH!) ; between Sari-Dzhou and Kufar villages, northern slopes of foothills, 29 April 1948, Bondarenko 317 ( TASH!) ; Panj district, Babatag region, Babatag Range , surroundings of village Nabat , 28 July 1938, Lepeshkin, Mukhamedzhanov 716 ( TASH!) ; surroundings of village Shar-Shar , 28 July 1938, Lepeshkin, Mukhamedzhanov 710 ( TASH!) ; surroundings of village Chinar-sokhta , 30 July 1938, Lepeshkin, Mukhamedzhanov 743 ( TASH!) ; Kyzylkum district, Kyzylkum region, between Shafirkan and field station of the Institute of Botany , 20 April 1965, Rajkova s.n. ( TASH!) .

Figures

FIGURE 5. Species of Tulipa sect. Kolpakowskianae: A. T. lehmanniana, B. T. korolkowii, C. T. ferganica. Scale bars, 1 cm.