Trip across Kazakhstan in search of wild tulips -
One-day excursion for wild tulips in the Almaty region -
Twice-drooping tulip (Tulipa binutans) is one of the most graceful and mysterious representatives of wild tulips, which can be found in the dry steppes and foothills of Central Asia. Its graceful flowers seem to bow to the wind, creating the illusion of the living breath of the steppe. The tulip was first described in 1952 by the famous researcher, botanist, and florist Alexey Ivanovich Vvedensky. Its name is associated with a unique feature: the flower droops twice - first in the bud, and then just before flowering, as if performing a dance before opening. This species is endemic to the mountainous regions of Central Asia and is of great interest to botanists and nature lovers. Flowering begins in April and continues until mid-May. The tulip is found in open steppe areas, rocky slopes and semi-desert areas of Kazakhstan. This species is perfectly adapted to arid climates and poor soils, maintaining viability even in the harshest conditions. This tulip is a valuable object for breeders, as it has a unique flowering form and high resistance to drought. Its genetic features can become the basis for breeding new ornamental varieties.
How to find, see and look at -
Tulipa Binutans grows in Kazakhstan, the Tien Shan Mountains, Turkestan region, Zhambyl region, Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve, Balkhash deserts, and the Kyrgyz mountain range.
Information -
Tulipa Binutans is not only a botanical value, but also an important object for ecotourism. We organize special tours so that you can see this rare species in its natural environment. Our tours include: visiting the mountain valleys and foothills of Central Asia, excursions with professional guides and botanists, lessons in botanical photography, acquaintance with the nature and culture of the region. The spring flowering of the tulip is a real miracle of nature, which lasts only a few weeks. Do not miss the opportunity to see it with your own eyes! Our tours will give you an unforgettable experience, unique photographs and the opportunity to learn more about the fragile beauty of mountain nature.
Like many wild tulips, Tulipa doublypondylosa is under threat due to the destruction of its natural habitat. The main threats are: grazing, collection of flowers and bulbs by people, climate change. The species is listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan and is protected in nature reserves and national parks.
Detailed description -
The bulb of Tulipa Binutans is ovoid, up to 2 cm in diameter, covered with leathery scales, which are cobwebby-woolly on the inside. Young scales are reddish-brown, and old ones are gray-brown. The stem reaches a height of 25 cm and bears two spaced, belt-shaped, grooved leaves. Flowers are usually 2-3 in number, less often single or up to 5-6. In buds and after flowering, they droop, which gives the plant a special grace. The perianth leaflets are sharp, white, with a light cream shade and a yellow spot at the base. The outer leaflets have a wide reddish-purple or greenish stripe along the back. The stamen filaments are yellow, hairy, orange in the upper part, and the anthers are yellow, sometimes with a purple tip. The fruit is an oval capsule up to 2.5 cm long and up to 1.5 cm wide, which can contain up to 175 normally developed seeds. Reproduction occurs mainly by seeds, less often vegetatively. The Double-nosed tulip blooms from the end of March to the end of April, and bears fruit in May-June. It prefers sandy and clayey soils of plains and foothills. This species has not been sufficiently studied, and it is often confused with the false two-flowered tulip (Tulipa bifloriformis) and the Buhse tulip (Tulipa buhseana), whose flowers also droop twice. It is reliably known that the Double-nosed tulip is found in the foothills of the Western Tien Shan and the Kyrgyz Range (South Kazakhstan and Zhambyl regions). Some authors also indicate that it grows in the Balkhash deserts - up to the northern foothills of the Tien Shan. This species is little known in culture, but it is grown in the botanical gardens of Tashkent, Minsk and Almaty. In our collection, specimens transferred by bulbs have successfully bloomed and borne fruit for more than 10 years. The doubly drooping tulip is an ornamental plant that can be used, like related species, for group plantings and rock gardens. Part of its range is located in the protected area of the Aksu-Dzhabagly Nature Reserve, which helps preserve this unique species.
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