Book a spring tulip botanical tour in Kazakhstan -
Preparation, organization and conduct of botanical excursions in Kazakhstan -
The Two-Flowered Tulip (Tulipa biflora) is one of the most elegant and unusual representatives of the tulip family. Its name (biflora) speaks for itself.: This is due to the unique feature that two flowers often bloom on the same stem, creating an amazing duet of delicate shades. This rare species, found in the steppes and foothills of Kazakhstan, delights with its elegance and bright contrasts of petals. It's like a play of light and shadow in the vast expanses, where every bloom is a real miracle of nature. This type of tulip was described back in 1776 by Peter Simon Pallas, a German and Russian scientist, encyclopedist, naturalist, botanist and traveler. In 1842, Alexander Ivanovich Shrenk made a collection of this tulip on the territory of Kazakhstan in the Kokshetau mountains, in the Tersakan mountain tract.
The Two-Flowered Tulip flower is its main decoration. The petals are bright white, often in two inflorescences on one stem, with a bright yellow spot at the base. The shape of the flower is cup-shaped, and its diameter reaches 3-4 cm. The outer petals often have a richer shade, which creates the effect of a "white-yellow bright splash" among the steppe landscape. The flower looks like a Regel tulip flower. The tulip blooms in April-May, and bears fruit in June. It reproduces both by seeds and vegetatively (by daughter bulbs). Seedlings bloom for 4-5 years of life. This species is listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan, as its numbers are declining due to flower harvesting, grazing and climate change. We strive to preserve its uniqueness by conducting environmentally responsible tours.
How to find see and view -
The Two-Flowered Tulip (Tulipa biflora) grows in Kazakhstan, the Caspian region, the foothills of the Altai Range, the Zaisan basin, the West Kazakhstan region, the Atyrau region, the Aktobe region, the Kostanay region, the Akmola region, the North Kazakhstan region, the Pavlodar region, the Karaganda region, the East Kazakhstan region, the Naurzumsky Reserve, the Kurgalzhinsky Reserve.
Information -
If you want to capture the beauty of the Two-Flowered Tulip in its natural environment, our company offers unique photo tours and photo hunting for wild tulips of Kazakhstan. Our routes are laid out through the places of mass flowering of this species and other types of tulips, where you can make amazing shots. Our guides know where to find the most picturesque places to shoot. You will be able to capture tulips against the background of steppes, mountains and the endless sky. We will help you choose the right lighting and composition so that your photos become real works of art. We care about nature, so our photo tours are organized with minimal impact on the environment. For those who want to learn more about wild tulips, we offer guided tours with experienced botanists. Our excursions are not just walks, but a real immersion in the world of wildlife. You will learn about how the Two-flowered tulip was discovered, how it adapted to harsh conditions and why it is so important for the ecosystem. We conduct master classes on plant identification, herbarium collection and study of the flora of the region. Our excursions are organized so that you can enjoy nature without unnecessary worries. For scientists, students and lovers of botany, we offer specialized botanical tours. These tours include: observing the flowering of tulips in Kazakhstan in their natural environment: You will be able to see tulips during their mass flowering, which is a rare and impressive sight. We are conducting research on tulip populations, and you can take part in them. For scientists and students, we offer the opportunity to collect data that can be used in scientific work. We know everything about Kazakhstan's tulips and are ready to share this knowledge with you. We only offer places where nature has preserved its pristine beauty. We teach our guests to take care of fragile ecosystems and take care of the nature of our country.
The Two-Flowered Tulip (Tulipa biflora) is not just a flower, it is a symbol of harmony and natural grace. Join our tours to see this miracle with your own eyes and create unforgettable impressions and memories!
Detailed description -
The Two-Flowered Tulip (Tulipa biflora) is a miniature but surprisingly beautiful plant that attracts attention with its delicate and exquisite beauty. Its bulb is ovoid in shape, up to 1.5 cm in diameter, and is covered with grayish-brown, almost papery scales, which are densely pubescent with spider-woolly hairs from the inside. The stem is 10-20 cm high and bears two spaced linear leaves, giving the plant a slender and graceful appearance. The flowers are small, solitary or 2-6 in number, painted white with a bright yellow base, which creates a spectacular contrast. The leaves of the perianth are pointed, up to 2.5 cm long, while the outer petals are twice as narrow as the inner ones and have a dull purple tint along the back. The staminate filaments are yellow, with a characteristic hairy ring at the base, and the anthers are small, only 2-3 mm long. The fruit is a rounded capsule up to 2.6 cm long and 1.7 cm wide, containing up to 150 normally developed seeds. The plant reproduces mainly by seeds, less often vegetatively. The flowering period lasts from the beginning of April to the beginning of May, and fruiting occurs from the end of May to the end of June.
The Two-Flowered Tulip is found in clay and brackish steppe areas, and is widespread in the northern part of Kazakhstan, from the Caspian region to the foothills of the Altai Ranges and the Zaisan basin. Its range covers the West Kazakhstan, Atyrau, Aktobe, Kostanay, Akmola, North Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, Karaganda and East Kazakhstan regions. This species was already cultivated in Western European countries in 1876, in particular in the city of Erfurt (Germany), and in the botanical garden of St. Petersburg it has been known in culture since 1875. In Kazakhstan, the Two-flowered tulip has been tested in the botanical gardens of Almaty and Leninogorsk (since 1978), but in both cases it showed poor resistance, falling out after 3-4 years. Despite this, it remains a valuable ornamental plant suitable for rock gardens, although in Kazakhstan it requires the development of special agrotechnical techniques for successful cultivation. Due to the rarity and vulnerability of the species, it has been proposed for inclusion in the second edition of the Red Book and is protected on the territory of the Naurzumsky and Kurgalzhinsky nature reserves.
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