Corresponding author: Alexander N. Sennikov (
Academic editor: Alexander Sukhorukov
The mega-diverse genus
In the course of preparation of a taxonomic revision of
In the present contribution, we report the occurrence of
The new material for this study was collected in the field in Yangi-Kurgan District, Namangan Province, Uzbekistan in 2015. The vouchers were deposited at the National Herbarium of Uzbekistan, Institute of Botany (TASH).
Morphological characters were evaluated using identification keys and species descriptions (
A distributional dataset was compiled on the basis of the published data (
Plants were photographed in the field in Uzbekistan and seed images were taken using an Olympus SZX12 stereo zoom binocular microscope, equipped with an eXcope XCAM1080 digital camera.
To assess the threat status of the species, IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria were employed (
The textual data (plant description and assessments) and illustrations (photographs and drawings) were made publicly available through species pages in GBIF (
We have revised all available collections and discovered 22 herbarium specimens and 2 observations of
Type: Kyrgyzstan. “Fergana Valley, 9 versts NE of meteorological station Schatak-Tepe, Ungor-Tepa Mts.”, 06.06.1912,
Stems 40-50 cm high, very finely tomentose, branched from the base and above. Leaves coriaceous, tomentose slightly above and abundantly below, their nerves ending with spines up to 1 cm long; basal leaves up to 25 cm long, ca. 6 cm wide, lyrate with lanceolate-ovate upper lobe and up to 5 pairs of oblong-ovate lateral lobes; lower cauline leaves lyrate, withering at anthesis; middle cauline leaves 3.5-4.5 cm wide, oblong-ovate or obovate, incised at the lower half, round and amplexicaul at the base, with the auricles adnate to 0.2-0.5 cm, not decurrent; upper cauline ovate, amplexicaul with free auricles, long-spiny at the apex; uppermost not reduced. Capitula 1.5-2 cm broad (without appendages), its green part ca. 2 cm high. Phyllaries 25-35, dark-green, glabrous, hard-coriaceous, narrowly attenuated; outer phyllaries spreading horizontally or slightly downwards, some with 1-3 pairs of spines at the base, their reflexed part 6-12 mm long, 2 mm broad at the base, straight, narrowly triangular; middle phyllaries spreading obliquely upwards, their reflexed part 15-23 mm long, 5-7 mm wide at the base, folded and indistinctly contracted at the base, narrowly triangular, prominently concave; inner phyllaries appressed; innermost phyllaries with purple glabrous deltoid-lanceolate appendages 15-20 mm long, 3-5 mm wide, overtopping the green part of the involucre by 5-10 mm. Receptacular bristles scabrid. Corolla light-purple, prominently overtopping the involucre. Anthers stramineous, long and very narrowly attenuated at the apex. Achenes 4-4.5 mm long. Fig.
Flowering period: May to June.
Distribution: Central Asia. Western Tian-Shan: Chatkal Mountain Range, Bozbu-Too Mts., At-Oinok Mts.; within the Kara-Suu River Basin. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Ecology: Gravelly slopes, rock crevices, open or partly shaded places, at elevations of 950-1500 m above sea level (optimal elevations between 1200 and 1400 m).
The type locality of
According to the expedition route map, published by
The original label of Knorring refers to meteorological station "Shatak-tebe", or "Schatak-tebe" in contemporary German spelling, which historically existed at the very border with Uzbekistan (
According to the published data (
The species is endemic to the East Fergana botanical hotspot, the area known for a number of narrowly restricted plant species (
Scientific name:
Species authority: Bornm.
Synonyms: No synonyms published.
Common names: No common names recorded.
Kingdom:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Taxonomic notes: The species is placed in
Figure(s) or Photo(s): Figs
Region for assessment: Global
Reviewers: Lazkov, G.A. & Allen, D.J.
Editor: Sennikov, A.N.
Biogeographic realm: Palearctic
Countries: UzbekistanKyrgyzstan
Map of records (image): Fig.
Map of records (Google Earth): Suppl. material
Basis of EOO and AOO: Observed
Basis (narrative): The species is known from 22 specimens kept at 6 herbaria worldwide (B, FRU, H, LE, MW, TASH) and 2 human observations, which document its occurrence in 10 localities separated by at least 2 km (
Min Elevation/Depth (m): 950
Max Elevation/Depth (m): 1500
Range description: The species is mountainous; it grows in three mountain systems of the Western Tian-Shan in Central Asia: Chatkal Mountain Range (south-eastern part), Bozbu-Too Mts., At-Oinok Mts., within the Kara-Suu River Basin.In spite of its restricted distribution, the species occurs in the territory of two countries, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The main distribution area lies within Kyrgyzstan, whereas only one locality is situated in Uzbekistan.
EOO (km2): 850
Trend: Unknown
Justification for trend: Although the current species situation is stable, it is sensitive to habitat destruction by mining and road construction, which is very common in the Western Tian-Shan. So far, no extinction in any species locality has been documented and its complete distribution area is under research.
Causes ceased?: Unknown
Causes understood?: Unknown
Causes reversible?: Unknown
Extreme fluctuations?: Unknown
Trend: Unknown
Justification for trend: So far, no populations are known as extinct. Decline is possible because of the vulnerability of habitats, but the lack of monitoring data does not allow assessment of its extent.
Causes ceased?: Unknown
Causes understood?: Unknown
Causes reversible?: Unknown
Extreme fluctuations?: Unknown
AOO (km2): 44
Number of locations: 10
Justification for number of locations: The species occurrence is documented in 10 localities separated at least by 2 km. The best known locality is situated south of Arkyt, which has been sampled repeatedly for 70 years. The most recent locality is a new country record in Uzbekistan. The other localities have been sampled once or twice, largely in historical times.
Trend: Unknown
Extreme fluctuations?: Unknown
Number of individuals: Estimated as fewer than 250 mature individuals.
Trend: Unknown
Justification for trend: With certainty, no expansion can be inferred. Based on continuous sampling and observations, the species may be considered rather stable. However, based on its poor reproduction and paucity of individuals in populations, the species may be sensitive to any external factors and some level of decline is likely.
Causes ceased?: Unknown
Causes understood?: Unknown
Causes reversible?: Unknown
Extreme fluctuations?: Unknown
Population Information (Narrative): The exact population size and the number of individuals are unknown. A population observed by A. Sennikov & G. Lazkov near Arkyt was visited repeatedly for nearly 70 years, but less than 20 mature individuals were counted with few immature individuals. According to G. Lazkov (pers. comm., 2020), this population can be considered typical of the species. A total of 30 mature individuals were observed in Uzbekistan (K. Tojibaev, pers. comm., 2020). Based on these observations, we estimate that the species may be represented by less than 250 mature individuals.Some biennial species of
Trend: Unknown
Extreme fluctuations?: No
Severe fragmentation?: No
System: Terrestrial
Habitat specialist: Yes
Habitat (narrative): The species grows on gravelly slopes and in rock fissures, in open places, typically insolated or sometimes slightly shaded. It grows on bare rocks and does not form plant communities.
Trend in extent, area or quality?: Unknown
Habitat importance: Major Importance
Habitats: 6. Rocky areas (e.g. inland cliffs, mountain peaks)
Size: 40-50
Generation length (yr): 2
Dependency of single sp?: No
Ecology and traits (narrative): The plants are biennial, forming a sterile rosette in the first year and flowering in the second year. The plants are medium-sized spiny forbs, not attractive to cattle and other large herbivores.
Justification for threats: Mining and road construction are common in rocky areas of the Western Tian-Shan and represent potential threats; however, no localities of the species are currently under direct impact for this reason. Seed set is partly limited by larvae of the
Threat type: Future
Threats: 3.2. Energy production & mining - Mining & quarrying4.1. Transportation & service corridors - Roads & railroads
Threat type: Ongoing
Threats: 8.2. Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases - Problematic native species/diseases
Justification for conservation actions: The species is not included in national Red Lists. One population near Arkyt is situated within the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve in Kyrgyzstan. No introduction to any botanical garden is known. Seeds have not been submitted to the Millennium Seed Bank or any similar institution.We suggest nation-level protection of the species in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Besides, other protected areas may be established to contribute to the sustainability of the species and other narrowly endemic plants of East Fergana. In particular, the southern foothills of Ungur-Tepa may be protected in Uzbekistan.
Conservation action type: In Place
Conservation actions: 1.1. Land/water protection - Site/area protection
Conservation action type: Needed
Conservation actions: 1.1. Land/water protection - Site/area protection
Justification for use and trade: No use or trade of the species has been registered.
Use type: National
Use and trade: 18. Unknown
Ecosystem service type: Less important
Research needed: 1.2. Research - Population size, distribution & trends1.5. Research - Threats3.1. Monitoring - Population trends3.4. Monitoring - Habitat trends
Justification for research needed: The complete distribution area of the species requires verification; more localities and populations can be discovered. However, the species is known as endemic to the East Fergana botanical hotspot and it is highly unlikely that any new locality will be found far away from the current distribution area.Population size and dynamics should be researched to better assess the viability of the species and its conservation status. The exact population size may be even lower than currently estimated because most of the localities have not been revisited by botanists.Population dynamics may appear important because population waves are known in species of the same genus. So far, no such observations exist for the species.Mining and road construction are apparent projected threats to the species. Their actual impact on the species viability should be assessed in all localities.
The authors are grateful to Georgy Lazkov (Bishkek) for reviewing the data and the species conservation assessment. David Allen (IUCN Red List Unit) is acknowledged for guidance and processing the assessment with the IUCN. Sampsa Lommi (Helsinki) kindly produced the distribution map image. Walter Berendsohn (Berlin) provided an image of the type specimen. The staff of the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve is thanked for cooperation and hospitality provided to Lazkov & Sennikov. Sennikov's travels to Kyrgyzstan were supported by
Lectotype specimen of
Line drawing of
Distribution map of
Representative specimen of
Distributional data for
occurrences
Observation data based on the comprehensive revision of herbarium specimens and published human observations, as used in GeoCAT.
File: oo_494360.kml