Tulipa albanica is a flowering plant in the tulip genus, family Liliaceae that is native to Albania.[2][3][4] It was discovered near the village of Surroj in Albania in 2010.[2] The plant is a critically endangered (CR) as it grows in an area smaller than 100 ha, surrounded by mining activities.
Tulipa albanica | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Liliales |
Family: | Liliaceae |
Subfamily: | Lilioideae |
Tribe: | Lilieae |
Genus: | Tulipa |
Subgenus: | Tulipa subg. Tulipa |
Species: | T. albanica
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Binomial name | |
Tulipa albanica = Kit Tan & Shuka
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Related species include Tulipa scardica and Tulipa schrenkii. T. albanica bears morphological similarities to both species, as well as growing in a similar environment, but can be distinguished genetically as well as by T. albanica's undulating leaf shape.[5]
Description
editTulipa albanica is a bulbous perennial reaching 15–40 cm (6–16 in) in height. The bulb is ovoid to ovoid-globose and 1.5 to 2.5 cm (5⁄8 to 1 in) in diameter. The stem is erect, glabrous, glaucous to greyish-green and the leaves, which vary from 3–5, reach a size of about 10–25 cm (4–10 in) long by 1–3.5 cm (3⁄8–1+3⁄8 in), and are glaucous to greyish-green. They grow alternately along the stem and the lowermost ones have strongly undulated edges.[5]
The stem bears a solitary large, erect, campanulate flower. It can be found in two colour: yellow to golden-yellow or carmine-scarlet to deep reddish-brown. The chromosome number is 2n = 2x = 24.[5]
Conservation
editThe Institute for Environmental Policy, a local NGO is carrying out monitoring and conservation actions, with the aim to propagate the plant to other locations in the region of Kukës, and secure its survival.[6]
References
edit- ^ Shuka, L. (2018). "Tulipa albanica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T13142545A18614500.en. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
- ^ a b Wheeler 2011.
- ^ Shuka, Tan & Siljak-Yakovlev 2010, p. 19.
- ^ Christenhusz et al. 2013.
- ^ a b c Shuka, Tan & Siljak-Yakovlev 2010.
- ^ "Conservation and propagation of the Albanian tulip". Institute for Environmental Policy. IEP. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
Bibliography
edit- Shuka, Lulëzim; Tan, Kit; Siljak-Yakovlev, Sonja (2010). "Tulipa albanica (Liliaceae), a new species from northeastern Albania" (PDF). Phytotaxa. 10: 17–25. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.10.1.2.
- Wheeler, Quentin (6 Aug 2011). "New to Nature No 49: Tulipa albanica". The Guardian.
- Christenhusz, M.J.M.; Govaerts, R.; David, J.C.; Hall, T.; Borland, K.; Roberts, P.S.; Tuomisto, A.; Buerki, S.; Chase, M.W.; Fay, M.F. (2013). "Tiptoe through the tulips - cultural history, molecular phylogenetics and classification of Tulipa (Liliaceae)". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 172 (3): 280–328. doi:10.1111/boj.12061.