Tulipa lemmersii Zonn., Peterse & J. de Groot

Tulipa lemmersii Zonn., Peterse & J. de Groot, Pl. Syst. Evol. 298: 91 (2012). Fig. 32 Type. Kazakhstan • Chimkent: Mashad Pass, cult. A. Peterse (holotype L 0822655). General distribution. Endemic to Kazakhstan (Kubentayev et al. 2024). Distribution in Kazakhstan and habitat. Western Tian Shan. This species grows on dry stony slopes with outcrops or shallow deposits of conglomerate rocks, on a plateau or canyon sites. Conservation status. Tulipa lemmersii is a vulnerable species at the global level (IUCN 2024). Phenology. Flowering in March – April; fruiting in May. Notes. Tulipa lemmersii was first found in 2007 by A. Peterse, at the top of steep cliffs on Mashat Pass, when he accompanied a tulip expedition organized by W. Lemmers (the species is named in his honor). Tulipa lemmersii can be distinguished from T. iliensis, T. ferganica, T. anisophylla, and T. tetraphylla by its glabrous stems, thin tunic, and single flowers. It can be distinguished from other species of the T. sect. Kolpakowskianae as they have mostly red and yellow flowers. It is a diploid species with the smallest genome size (36 pg) among all species in the section Kolpakowskianae (Zonneveld 2009). The species was later validated using type designation in 2012 (Veldkamp and Zonneveld 2012).