Rare species of Tulipa (Liliaceae) from Tashkent Botanical Garden

Abstract

Biomorphological features of 14 rare Tulipa species listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Tulipa affinis, T. carinata, T. ferganica, T. fosteriana, T. greigii, T. ingens, T. kaufmanniana, T. korolkowii, T. lanata, T. micheliana, T. scharipovii, T. tubergeniana, T. uzbekistanica and T. vvedenskyi) were studied under ex situ conditions in the Tashkent Botanical Garden. It has been found, that all studied species successfully grow and bear fruits ex situ. All 14 species are able to autogamy; even solitary generative specimens regularly produce seeds. This feature significantly facilitates the further breeding of rare species of tulips. Considering the heterospermy and irregular quality of seedlings, the most rapidly developing individuals should be selected for cultivation and reintroduction.