Tulipa turgaica Perezhogin

Tulipa turgaica Perezhogin, Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 45: 145 (2014). Fig. 42 Type. Kazakhstan • Prov. Kostanay, Zhangeldin distr., pag. Turgay, 2 May 2009, Yu. Perezhogin (LE). General distribution. Endemic to Kazakhstan (Kubentayev et al. 2024). Distribution in Kazakhstan and habitat. Aktobe, and Turgay. This species grows on dry, deserted clay steppes. Conservation status. The IUCN conservation status of this species requires assessment. Phenology. Flowering in April – May; fruiting in June – July. Notes. Tulipa turgaica was first invalidly described in 2013 by Yu. V. Perezhogin from Northern Kazakhstan (Turgai) and validated in 2014. This species is morphologically similar to T. biebersteiniana but differs by several flowers and grows in drier habitats (Perezhogin 2013). Some taxonomists classified T. biebersteiniana as a synonym of the widespread European T. sylvestris subsp. australis (Christenhusz et al. 2013; Everett et al. 2013). When we studied populations of T. turgaica from the type locality, a high frequency of plants with several flowers was not observed. Individuals with 2–3 flowers were found in the population. However, T. turgaica differs morphologically from mesophytic T. biebersteiniana in that it does not exhibit vegetative propagation and does not form lateral stolons like T. biebersteiniana. Further studies are required to investigate the taxonomy of these species.