Research Article |
Corresponding author: Hyeok Jae Choi ( skinh@hanmail.net ) Academic editor: Anatoliy Khapugin
© 2023 Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev, Farkhod I. Karimov, Hushbaht R. Hoshimov, Rustam Gulomov, Georgy A. Lazkov, Chang-Gee Jang, Hee-Young Gil, Ju-Eun Jang, Avazbek R. Batoshov, Abdulla Iskandarov, Hyeok Jae Choi.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Tojibaev KS, Karimov FI, Hoshimov HR, Gulomov R, Lazkov GA, Jang C-G, Gil H-Y, Jang J-E, Batoshov AR, Iskandarov A, Choi HJ (2023) Important plant areas (IPAs) in the Fergana Valley (Central Asia): The Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa massif. Nature Conservation 51: 13-70. https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.51.94477
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This paper discusses identifying Important Plant Areas (IPAs) in one of the most densely populated regions of Central Asia—the Fergana valley. The recognition of IPA sites is an attempt to introduce new ways of conserving local plant diversity with a high concentration of endemic species in Central Asia, where conservation methods of the former Soviet Union still prevail. The research revealed the current state and geography of many rare species and enriched the flora of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan with several rare species. The second IPA is the transboundary territory of the Fergana valley, uniting the southern spurs of the Chatkal range and the Ungortepa-BozbuToo massif. We documented the distribution of 62 species in the IPAs under the sub-criteria of Plantlife International. Our study aimed at continuing studies on the IPAs in this region, addressing specific conservation challenges, such as conserving national endemics and endangered species that grow outside protected areas and GIS mapping of endemic species.
Central Asia, endemic plants, Fergana Valley, important plant areas
Biodiversity hotspots represent regions with high species richness and centers of endemic species and are generally considered priority conservation regions. They provide a good natural laboratory for conducting studies testing the relationship between extinction risk and evolutionary history (
The Mountains of Central Asia are an important global biodiversity hotspot (
In the previous stages of the study, we attempted to identify important plant areas (IPAs) in the FV, one of the most densely human-populated regions in Central Asia with a diverse array of endemic and endangered species. The badlands of the Chust-Pap adyrs (foothills) with a high concentration of endemic species of the western Tian-Shan were chosen as the first IPA of the FV. An overview of international references on IPA research in various countries was given in the first phase of IPA research (
Identifying species diversity and distribution is key to the protection and prevention of biodiversity loss at both global and local scales, because robust data are paramount for well-informed decisions on policy, conservation, and species management (
This work continues the identification of the IPA sites in FV, Central Asia. The second IPA site in the FV is located between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, in the southern part of the Chatkal Range. Two areas are clearly distinguished here. These are (a) the Bozbu-Too mountains (Kyrgyzstan) and (b) the lower reaches of the Mailisay river basin and the Ungortepa massif (Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan). Based on this, the second IPA site in FV has been named the Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa massif. According to the administrative zoning, the study area is located in the Chartak district of the Namangan region of Uzbekistan and the Aksy district of the Jalal-Abad region of Kyrgyzstan. Phytogeographically, the IPA site belongs to the South Chatkal district of the Fergana region, Mountainous Central Asian province (
The Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa massif and the adjacent Mailisay river basin of the Chatkal Range are poorly studied areas of the FV. The first detailed field studies were carried out in the middle of the last century (1949–1953) when the Institute of Botany of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan organized expeditions to study industrial reserves of rubber plants under the local name tau-sagyz. In 1949, during a route-geobotanical survey of the FV, large thickets of a rubber-bearing taxonomically unknown representative of the genus Scorzonera L. were found (
In Central Asia countries, the realization of IPAs programs, including the identification process, data accumulation, and GIS mapping of species across IPA criteria, is in dynamic development (
The FV is an intermountain trough covering an area of about 22 000 km2. Including the surrounding mountains, it covers up to 80 000 km2 and is located in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan (
The botanical significance of Central Asia in terms of global plant diversity and the use of this phrase concerning a specific geographical area were discussed in a previous publication (
The study area is north of the Syr Darya River on the southern slopes of Chatkal Range. Tashkumyr town (Kyrgyzstan) is the eastern, and Kerben town (Kyrgyzstan) the western border. The southern border runs along the meridian of Yangikurgan and Uchkurgan towns (Uzbekistan), and further north along Avletim (Kyrgyzstan). The IPA site was located between 41°25'9.44"N, 71°41'31.76"E and 41°27'23.85"N, 72°10'53.88"E, with an altitude range from 550 to 2860 m above sea level. The site is 48–56 km long and 30–42 km wide (Fig.
The climate of the IPA site and its surroundings is dry and warm. As no precise climatic data are available for this IPA site, extrapolations have been made based upon the average data for Namangan weather stations and using the environmental lapse rate (6 °C/1000 m). The annual rainfall in the lower zone (500–800 m) varies from 170–280 mm, and from 350–400 mm in the upper zone (1200–1500 m). The average temperature is 2–5 °C in January, and 27–28 °C and 7–10 °C in the upper part in July. The average annual temperature is 13.2 °C, and the lowest is 4 °C. The absolute minimum fluctuates around -20 °C. Rainfall occurs in spring and autumn-winter. There are two contrasting periods: spring (until the end of May) with green vegetation and summer when most of the vegetation burns out and the vegetation is a shade of yellow (
The study area occupies two lower geomorphological stages—the foothills and the low mountains of South Chatkal. The variegated geological structure of the surface and the intense runoff characteristic of the region, causing erosion of slopes, have a significant effect on soil formation and the soil cover structure. For this reason, the predominant part of the site is devoid of a characteristic soil cover due to the vigorous erosion of the surface. This is one of the main factors affecting the formation of vegetation cover (
In the Uzbekistan part, the first field studies to identify the IPA were in 2013–2014 by Tojibaev`s team but were stopped due to lack of funding. In Kyrgyzstan, the first field studies of the authors (G.A. Lazkov) began in the 1990s. However, targeted research under the IPA program was carried out only in 2020–2022. From the IPA surveys both in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Lazkov's and Tojibaev's team field records, literature data from
Taxonomic identification was based on Flora of Uzbekistan (1941–1963), Flora of Kyrgyzstan (1952–1965), Conspectus Florae Asiae Media (1969–1993), a taxonomic revision of some families of the flora of Kyrgyzstan (
Species and habitats were selected according to the proposed IPA criteria. The IPA site selection methodology fits the European IPA criteria set out in the IPA site selection manual and their modifications published in authoritative publications (
We used only selected vascular plants and habitats and existing data on their distribution on a national and regional scale. This is because, as in Kyrgyzstan, there is currently no classification of habitats, especially critical habitats, in Uzbekistan. Moreover, the studied area is typical for the south of mountainous Central Asia.
The boundaries of the Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa IPA site are broadly in line with the regional assessment of KBAs (Key Biodiversity Areas) in Central Asia (
Existing conservation threats were estimated based on field observations and analysis of the available literature data (
According to the generally accepted formulation, IPA sites with criterion A should hold significant populations of one or more species of global or regional conservation concern (
The list of selected species including the criterion A of the Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa massif with IPA sub-criteria, IUCN Conservation status, general distribution and preserved herbaria.
No | Accepted species name | IPA category | Conservation status (IUCN) | Red Data Book | Preserved Herbaria | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EOO km2 | AOO km2 | Category | |||||
1 | Malus sieversii (Ledeb.) M.Roem. | Ai | Not evaluated | VU A2acde | KG | TASH, FRU, TAD, MW, AA | |
2 | Acanthophyllum pungens (Bunge) Boiss. | Aii | 1,685,141.644 | 248 | LC+EN | UZ | TASH, FRU, TAD, MW, AA |
3 | Allium dodecadontum Vved. | Aii | 19,569.468 | 92 | VU+EN | KG | TASH, FRU |
4 | Allium viridiflorum Pobed. | Aii | 133.707 | 16 | EN | UZ | TASH, FRU |
5 | Anthochlamys tjanschanica Iljin ex Aellen | Aii | 21,576.049 | 136 | NT+EN | UZ | TASH, FRU, MW |
6 | Crataegus knorringiana Pojark. | Aii | 19,859.660 | 52 | EN | KG | TASH, FRU |
7 | Delphinium knorringianum B.Fedtsch. | Aii | 23,231.587 | 24 | NT+EN | KG, UZ | TASH, FRU |
8 | Dorema microcarpum Korovin | Aii | 21,800.193 | 46 | NT+EN | KG, UZ | TASH, FRU, MW |
9 | Eminium regelii Vved. | Aii | 95,605.497 | 80 | LC+EN | KG | TASH, FRU, TAD, MW, AA |
10 | Gamanthus ferganicus Iljin | Aii | 15,513.182 | 136 | VU+EN | UZ | TASH, FRU, MW |
11 | Iris kolpakowskiana Regel | Aii | 126,385.582 | 96 | LC+EN | KG | TASH, FRU, MW, AA |
12 | Hedlundia persica (Hedl.) Mezhenskyj | Aii | 851,107.371 | 144 | LC+EN | KG | TASH, FRU, TAD, MW, AA |
13 | Lamyropappus schakaptaricus (B. Fedtsch.) Knorring & Tamamsch. | Aii | 4,166.438 | 108 | EN | KG | TASH, FRU, MW |
14 | Oreosalsola drobovii (Botsch.) Akhani | Aii | 34,390.040 | 80 | NT+EN | TJ, UZ | TASH, FRU, TAD, MW, AA, |
15 | Seseli eryngioides (Korovin) Pimenov et V.N.Tikhom. | Aii | 1,190.623 | 20 | EN | KG | FRU, MW |
16 | Tulipa ferganica Vved | Aii | 36,709.666 | 156 | NT+EN | UZ | TASH, FRU, MW |
17 | Allium tatyanae F.O.Khass. & F.Karimov | Aiii | 13,360 | 8 | CR | – | TASH |
18 | Astragalus allotricholobus Nabiev | Aiii | 316,899 | 24 | EN | – | TASH, FRU, MW |
19 | Corydalis bosbutooënsis Lazkov | Aiii | 3,040 | 8 | CR | – | TASH, FRU |
20 | Gagea spelaea Levichev et Lazkov | Aiii | 3,786 | 8 | CR | – | FRU |
21 | Iris austrotschatkalica Tojibaev, F. Karim. et Turgunov | Aiii | 0 | 8 | CR | – | TASH |
22 | Acantholimon nabievii Lincz. | Aiii | 2,039.723 | 48 | EN | – | TASH, FRU, MW |
23 | Allium arkitense R.M. Fritsch | Aiii | 1 124,205 | 20 | EN | – | TASH, FRU |
24 | Allium gracillimum Vved | Aiii | 9 463,085 | 28 | VU+EN | – | TASH, FRU, TAD MW |
25 | Allium haneltii F.O. Khass. & R.M. Fritsch | Aiii | 865,233 | 36 | EN | – | TASH |
26 | Allium oreoscordum Vved. | Aiii | 19 763,085 | 36 | VU+EN | – | TASH, FRU, MW |
27 | Allium pseudopskemense ined. | Aiii | 2523 | 16 | EN | – | FRU |
28 | Astragalus bosbutooënsis Nikitina et Sudn. | Aiii | 356,940 | 20 | EN | – | TASH, FRU |
29 | Astragalus melanocomus Popov | Aiii | 827,190 | 12 | EN | – | LE, MW |
30 | Astragalus pseudodianthus Nabiev | Aiii | 1169,459 | 32 | EN | – | TASH, FRU |
31 | Astragalus spryginii Popov | Aiii | 4442,536 | 20 | EN | – | TASH, FRU, MW |
32 | Cousinia knorringiae Bornmuller | Aiii | 775,616 | 32 | EN | – | TASH, FRU |
33 | Cousinia krauseana Regel & Schmalh. | Aiii | 37 072,599 | 36 | NT+EN | – | TASH, FRU, MW |
34 | Echinops knorringianus Iljin | Aiii | 8,933.847 | 40 | VU+EN | – | TASH, FRU, MW |
35 | Eremurus czatkalicus Lazkov | Aiii | 3,153,563 | 32 | EN | – | TASH, FRU, MW |
36 | Ferula incisoserrata Pimenov et J. Baranova | Aiii | 749,070 | 16 | EN | – | TASH, FRU, MW |
37 | Fritillaria rugillosa Naumenko & Zubov | Aiii | 4,885,728 | 32 | EN | – | TASH, FRU |
38 | Hedysarum gypsaceum Korotkova | Aiii | 1,956.487 | 28 | EN | – | TASH, FRU, MW |
39 | Hedysarum turkestanicum Regel et Schmalh. | Aiii | 15 611,335 | 32 | VU+EN | – | TASH, FRU, MW |
40 | Hyalolaena intermedia Pimenov & Kljuykov | Aiii | 2,969,10 | 24 | EN | – | TASH, FRU |
41 | Iris narynensis O. Fedtsch. | Aiii | 2 735,900 | 28 | EN | – | TASH, FRU, MW |
42 | Limonium ferganense IIkonn.-Gal. | Aiii | 5 203,680 | 12 | VU+EN | – | TASH, FRU, MW |
43 | Oxytropis gymnogyne Bunge | Aiii | 14,138.749 | 120 | VU+EN | – | TASH, FRU, TAD MW |
44 | Phlomoides adylovii Lazkov | Aiii | 1,810.229 | 24 | EN | – | FRU |
45 | Phlomoides kirghisorum Adylov, Kamelin & Makhm. | Aiii | 2,605.687 | 40 | EN | – | TASH, FRU |
46 | Phlomoides alaica (Popov) Adylov, Kamelin & Makhm. | Aiii | 43,650.470 | 24 | NT | – | TASH, FRU, MW |
47 | Phlomoides urodonta (Popov) Adylov et al. | Aiii | 176.445 | 32 | EN | – | TASH, FRU |
48 | Scutellaria xanthosiphon Juz. | Aiii | 1,810,209 | 24 | EN | – | FRU, MW |
49 | Silene fetissovii Lazkov | Aiii | 2948,074 | 28 | EN | – | FRU, MW |
50 | Seseli giganteum Lipsky | Aiii | 893.356 | 20 | EN | – | LE, MW, AA, TASH, FRU, TAD |
51 | Seseli unicaule (Korovin) Pimenov | Aiii | 16 472,343 | 32 | VU+EN | – | LE, TASH, FRU, WILR, MW |
52 | Tanacetopsis ferganensis (Kovalevsk.) Kovalevsk. | Aiii | 5,310.020 | 24 | VU+EN | – | FRU, MW |
53 | Allium minutum Vved. | Aiv | 10,420.306 | 20 | VU+EN | TJ | LE, TASH, FRU, TAD |
54 | Astragalus syreitschikovii Pavlov | Aiv | 95,139.963 | 68 | LC+EN | – | MW, AA, TASH, FRU |
55 | Fritillaria sewerzowii Regel | Aiv | 39,522.829 | 116 | NT+EN | – | TASH, FRU, AA, MW |
56 | Jurinea winkleri Iljin | Aiv | 6,661.322 | 108 | VU+EN | – | TASH, MW |
57 | Leibnitzia knorringiana (B. Fedtsch.) Pobed. | Aiv | 8,443.694 | 40 | VU+EN | – | FRU, MW |
58 | Lagochilus knorringianus var. drobovii (Kamelin & Tzukerv.) Lazkov | Aiv | 32,447.798 | 60 | NT+EN | – | TASH, FRU, AA, MW |
59 | Polycnemum perenne Litv. | Aiv | 32,249.538 | 152 | NT+EN | – | TASH, FRU, AA, MW |
60 | Pseudosedum ferganense Boriss. | Aiv | 27,595.830 | 100 | NT+EN | – | LE, MW, TASH, FRU |
61 | Tulipa bifloriformis Vved. | Aiv | 15,621.720 | 164 | VU+EN | TJ | TASH, FRU, MW, TAD |
62 | Takhtajaniantha tau-saghyz (Lipsch. & G.G.Bosse) Zaika, Sukhor. & N.Kilian. | Aiv | 28,713.924 | 28 | NT+EN | – | TASH, FRU, AA, MW |
This category includes globally threatened species. In the Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa IPA site, only one species was described as category Ai.
Malus sieversii (Ledeb.) M.Roem., Fam. Nat. Syn. Monogr. 3: 216 (1847)
= Malus kirghisorum Al.Fed. & Fed., Trudy Yuzhno-Kirgizsk. Eksped. 1: 220 (1949).
Note. Malus sieversii is grown and consumed worldwide, and there is increasing interest in the crop’s evolutionary history and in variety improvement for traits such as fruit characteristics, disease resistance, and stress tolerance (
Existing Conservation Threats. Over-collection for firewood.
General distribution. Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Xinjiang.
Distribution in FV. All mountain ranges of the FV.
Fifteen species were described in category Aii.
All species listed in sub-criterion Aii are included as threatened species in the Red Data Books of Kyrgyzstan (
Acanthophyllum pungens (Bunge) Boiss., Fl. Orient. 1: 561 (1867)
Figs
= Acanthophyllum albidum Schischk., V.L. Komarov (ed.), Fl. URSS 6: 893 (1936).
Note. This polymorphic species is widespread in Central Asia (
The wild habitat of some plants in FV A Acanthophyllum pungens B Allium dodecadontum C Allium viridiflorum D Lamyropappus schakaptaricus E Delphinium knorringianum F Iris kolpakowskiana G Seseli eryngioides H Hedlundia persica I Tulipa ferganica J Eminium regelii.
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation.
General distribution. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, North Caucasus, Tajikistan, Transcaucasus, Uzbekistan, Xinjiang.
Distribution in FV. Foothills and lower mountains of FV.
Allium dodecadontum Vved. in Opred. Rast. Sred. Azii 2: 316 (1971)
Figs
Note. The species is a member of a small cluster (Alay-Fergana Geographical clade sect. Acmopetala sensu
Distribution map of the species of sub-criterion Aii, based on GeoCAT A Acanthophyllum pungens B Allium dodecadontum C Allium viridiflorum D Anthochlamys tjanschanica E Crataegus knorringiana F Dorema microcarpum G Delphinium knorringianum H Eminium regelii.
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Mid-mountain belt of the Chatkal Range.
Allium viridiflorum Pobed. in Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 11: 64 (1949)
Figs
Note. This species is a representative of the bi-type Allium ser. Verticillata Tzag., which have whorled leaves (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Low and mid-mountain belt of the Chatkal Range.
Anthochlamys tjanschanica Iljin ex Aellen in Verh. Naturf. Ges. Basel 61: 170 (1950)
Fig.
Note. The genus Anthochlamys comprises five species (POWO, 2022) and is distributed in the Iran-Turanian floristic region (
The species belongs to the rare endemic species of FV with a very narrow distribution range. It inhabits gravelly and loessal slopes of foothills and does not grow in protected areas (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, dry-farming, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Foothills of FV.
Crataegus knorringiana Pojark. in Ref. Nauchno-Issl. Rabot, Otdelenie Biol. Nauk 1945: 7 (1947)
Fig.
Note. FV, the Chatkal Range, and the surrounding area, in particular, are important areas in the conservation of wild species of hawthorns (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, human disturbance, over-grazing, and cutting threaten the species (
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan.
Distribution in FV. Mid-mountain belt of Chatkal and Alay ranges.
Delphinium knorringianum B.Fedtsch. in J. Roy. Hort. Soc. 61: 196 (1936)
Figs
Note. This rare ornamental plant is a relic species with a disjunctive area and is endemic to FV, where it was found on the northern slopes of the Atoynok Mountain Range and in the northern spurs of Turkestan and Alay ranges.
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Mid-mountain belt of the Atoynok Mountain Range and in the northern spurs of the Turkestan and Alay ranges.
Dorema microcarpum Korovin in Bot. Mater. Gerb. Inst. Bot. Zool. Akad. Nauk Uzbeksk. S.S.R. 8: 6 (1947)
Fig.
Note. As mentioned by M.G.
Dorema microcarpum is the type species of the sect. Microcarpa Pimenov, and is considered the most eastern species of the genus. The mountain surrounding FV limits the distributed area (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, dry-farming, overgrazing.
General distribution. Fergana, South Chatkal, Kurama, and Alay ranges (Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan).
Distribution in FV. Foothills of FV.
Eminium regelii Vved. in Schreder (ed.), Fl. Uzbekistan. 1: 540 (1941)
Figs
Note. The species is listed as a rare endangered species in the Red Data Book of Kyrgyzstan (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, dry-farming, overgrazing in early spring.
General distribution. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Foothills of FV.
Gamanthus ferganicus Iljin in Trudy Bot. Inst. Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R., Ser. 1, Fl. Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 2: 131 (1936)
Fig.
≡ Halimocnemis ferganica (Iljin) Akhani, Int. J. Pl. Sci. 168: 948 (2007).
Note. The genus Gamanthus Bunge is predominantly a desert and foothill genus, growing on sands and variegated outcrops. The genus is represented by five species (
Distribution map of the species of sub-criterion Aii, based on GeoCAT A Gamanthus ferganicus B Iris kolpakowskiana C Hedlundia persica D Lamyropappus schakaptaricus E Oreosalsola drobovii F Seseli eryngioides G Tulipa ferganica.
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic; low mountains of Chatkal Range (Ungortepa).
Iris kolpakowskiana Regel in Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 5: 263 (1877)
Figs
= Iridodictyum kolpakowskianum (Regel) Rodion., Rod Iris: 202 (1961).
Note. This is an ornamental and early flowering species with a reducing area. The distribution area includes piedmont plains, foothills, and low mountains (up to 1500 m) in western and northern Tian-Shan. The species populates silty-soil, loess, and stony slopes. Such landscapes predominate in FV and are places of intensive human activity. For this reason, the number of individuals is limited and declining. The species is included in the Red Book of Kyrgyzstan (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, dry-farming, overgrazing in early spring.
General distribution. Western and northern Tian-Shan (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan).
Distribution in FV. Foothills of FV.
Hedlundia persica (Hedl.) Mezhenskyj, NULESU Coll. Fruit Ornament. Pl.: 32 (2018)
Figs
≡ Sorbus persica Hedl., Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl., n.s., 35(1): 70 (1901).
≡ Pyrus persica (Hedl.) M.F.Fay & Christenh., Global Fl. 4: 115 (2018).
Note. Although the species is rare and red-listed in Kyrgyzstan (
Existing Conservation Threats. Over-collection for firewood.
General distribution. Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
Distribution in FV. Mid-mountain belt of Chatkal, Fergana, Alay and Turkestan ranges.
Lamyropappus schakaptaricus (B.Fedtsch.) Knorring & Tamamsch. in Bot. Zhurn. S.S.S.R. 38: 909 (1954)
≡ Cirsium schakaptaricum O.Fedtsch. & B.Fedtsch., Consp. Fl. Turkest. 4: 287 (1912).
Note. The monotypic genus Lamyropappus Knorring & Tamamsch. belongs to the relicts of the flora of Central Asia (
The species has been included in the first three editions of the Red Data Book of Uzbekistan (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, overgrazing.
General distribution. Pribalkhash Deserts, western Tian-Shan (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan).
Distribution in FV. Foothills and low mountains in Naryn River Valley, Chatkal, and Fergana ranges.
Oreosalsola drobovii (Botsch.) Akhani in Phytotaxa 249: 162 (2016)
Fig.
≡ Salsola drobovii Botsch. in Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Uzbekistansk. Fil. Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 3: 3 (1941).
Note. The genus Oreosalsola Akhani, a non-C4 lineage, was described as a new genus segregated from Salsola s.l. Morphologically and phylogenetically, Oreosalsola is very similar to Salsola arbusculiformis Drobow, i.e., the “Collinosalsola” group. The main differences are the relatively long inflorescences, glaucous annual branches, and deep bifid divergent stigmas in Oreosalsola in contrast to dark green annual branches, shorter inflorescences, and less divided stigmas in “Collinosalsola” (
Oreosalsola drobovii (Botsch.) Akhani is distributed in the central and western Tian-Shan area. The FV is the southern border of the species distribution. It is found as solitary plants, inhabiting dry gravelly and stony slopes of the foothills and the lower belt of mountains. In the dry and waterless slopes of the Kurama ridge, the population is vulnerable, but the semi-shrub life form allows it to survive the “waterless” periods. But, this biomorph is the limiting factor in the context of various external impacts, such as cutting and fragmentation of habitats. This species is not protected in the Fergana part of the range.
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Foothills and low mountains of Kurama and Chatkal ranges.
Seseli eryngioides (Korovin) Pimenov & V.N.Tikhom., in S.K.Cherepanov, Sosud. Rast. SSSR: 30 (1981)
Figs
Note. This is one of the subendemic species of the Bozbu-Too-Ungortep IPA site with a few numbers of individuals. The distribution area is limited by the Chatkal range (
Existing Conservation Threats. Unstudied.
General distribution. Western and northern Tian-Shan (Kyrgyzstan).
Distribution in FV. Foothills of FV.
Tulipa ferganica Vved. in Byull. Sredne-Aziatsk. Gosud. Univ. 21: 148 (1935)
Figs
Note. This is a subendemic species of FV and also grows on the southern macroslope of the Susamyr Range. All populations are located in the eastern part of the valley within the Chatkal and Alay ranges. Despite its wide distribution in this part of FV, there is a decrease in habitats and individuals in populations, especially around large settlements. Populations in the vicinity of Yangikurgan, Andijan, and Namangan are most threatened, with observed declines of over 25–30% in the last 20–25 years. Therefore, the presence of this species in the protected areas of the FV is important. Currently, the FV presents 11 protected areas with four types (including natural monuments). In terms of preserving wild tulip populations, the most significant protected area is the Sary-Chelek Reserve and other reserves located in Kyrgyzstan (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, overgrazing.
General distribution. Western Tian-Shan and northern Pamir-Alay (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan).
Distribution in FV. Foothills and low mountains of FV.
Thirty six species were described in category Aiii.
In this study, following
Specimen of Hedysarum turkestanicum Regel & Schmalh. collected 70 years after the date of the type specimens collection.
Species of sub-criteria Aiii were divided into two groups: “Highly Restricted Endemics” (HRE), which consist of species with a total range of less than 100 km2; and “Range Restricted Endemic” (RRE) with a total range of no more than 5000 km2, but more than 100 km2 (
Allium tatyanae F.O.Khass. & F.Karimov in Stapfia 99: 211 (2013)
Figs
Note. This species was previously described at this IPA site (
The wild habitat of some plants in FV A Phlomoides adylovii B Phlomoides kirghisorum C Phlomoides urodonta D Seseli giganteum E Scutellaria xanthosiphon F Phlomoides alaica G Silene fetissovii H Tanacetopsis ferganensis.
The wild habitat of some plants in FV. A Allium tatyanae B Corydalis bosbutooënsis C Gagea spelaea D Iris austrotschatkalica E Acantholimon nabievii F Allium arkitense G Allium gracillimum H Allium oreoscordum I Allium haneltii J Allium pseudopskemense K Astragalus bosbutooënsis L Ferula incisoserrata M Cousinia knorringiae N Cousinia krauseana O Fritillaria rugillosa P Eremurus czatkalicus Q Hedysarum gypsaceum R Limonium ferganense S Seseli unicaule.
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, overgrazing.
General distribution. Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Subendemic; foothills of FV.
Astragalus allotricholobus Nabiev in Bot. Mater. Gerb. Inst. Bot. Akad. Nauk Uzbeksk. S.S.R. 14: 17 (1954)
Fig.
Note. This is one of the lesser-known species of Astragalus sect. Chaetodon Bunge. It was described by M.M. Nabiev at the IPA site area during his inventory study of the flora of Maylisay river basin (1954). The species in the herbaria of Central Asia (Tashkent, Bishkek) is represented by only a few specimens. A possible reason for this is the natural rarity of populations and the narrow range of distribution areas.
Distribution map of the species of sub-criterion Aiii, based on GeoCAT A Allium tatyanae B Astragalus allotricholobus C Corydalis bosbutooënsis D Gagea spelaea E Iris austrotschatkalica F Acantholimon nabievii G Allium arkitense H Allium gracillimum I Allium haneltii J Allium oreoscordum K Allium pseudopskemense L Astragalus bosbutooënsis.
The species is well distinguished from other representatives of the sect. Chaetodon, primarily from Astragalus rumpens Meffert allians, by the pubescence of the calyx (long, spaced, and shortly appressed) and beans (short, appressed hairs). This feature was the reason for the specific epithet, which in Latin means “beans otherwise hairy”.
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic (Chatkal, Kurama); foothills of southern Chatkal.
Corydalis bosbutooënsis Lazkov in Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 91: 954 (2006)
Figs
Note. This interesting species (sect. Strictae, subsect. Flabellatae Fedde), with a narrow range, was previously described at this IPA site (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic; foothills and low mountains of FV.
Gagea spelaea Levichev & Lazkov in J. Asia-Pacific Biodivers. 12: 343 (2019)
Figs
Note. The genus Gagea Salisb. is one of the largest genera in Liliaceae. Numerous studies have estimated that the number of species in the genus ranges from about 100 (
Described from FV, Gagea spelaea belongs to the group of white-flowered Gagea species. Until recently, this species was only known from the Chatkal Range’s Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve, Kyrgyzstan (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic; Chatkal Range (Bozbu-Too, Sary-Chelek).
Iris austrotschatkalica Tojibaev, F.Karim. & Turgunov in Turczaninowia 17(4): 12 (2014)
Figs
Note. The species also was previously described at this IPA site (southern Chatkal ridge, Ungortepa) in 2014 (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic; low mountains of Chatkal Range (Ungortepa).
Acantholimon nabievii Lincz. in Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 21: 495 (1961)
Figs
Note. This species has a limited distribution in the form of a narrow strip along the northern foothills of the FV (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic; northern foothills of FV.
Allium arkitense R.M.Fritsch in Stapfia 80: 385 (2002)
Figs
Note. The species, one of the rare species of the FV, was described over the past two decades (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic; northern foothills of FV.
Allium gracillimum Vved. in Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 9: 243 (1946)
Figs
Note. Originally, the species was described as a narrow endemic of the Mogoltau Mountains, Tajikistan (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic; low mountains of Mogoltau, Atoynak, Chatkal and Kurama ranges.
Allium haneltii F.O. Khass. & R.M. Fritsch in Linzer Biol. Beitr. 30: 282 (1998)
Figs
Note. This is a morphologically and geographically interesting species of Allium sect. Brevidentia F.O.Khass. & Yengalycheva (
The distribution area is limited by the foothills of Kurama and Chatkal ranges (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic; northern foothills of FV.
Allium oreoscordum Vved. in Bot. Mater. Gerb. Glavn. Bot. Sada R.S.F.S.R. 5: 95 (1924)
Figs
Note. This is one of the primitive Allium species in the flora of Central Asia. Characterized by the peculiar structure of the bulb, i.e., bulbs are attached to an ascending rhizome, they are narrowly conical, and bulb tunics are reticulate. The species was described from Ungortepa, i.e., in the IPA area. Currently, the area is limited to the Chatkal and Uzun-Akhmat ranges (FV) and the species is known in 10–12 locations; most of them are found in the Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa IPA.
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic; northern foothills and mid-mountains of FV.
Allium pseudopskemense ined. (sect. Cepa)
Figs
Note. Allium sect. Cepa (Mill.) Prokh. is a small group within the genus Allium that includes 12 wild and cultivated species. Two of them, Allium cepa L. (common or bulb onion) and A. fistulosum L. (bunching onion) are economically important (
During field research at the IPA site in 2012–2013, Lazkov collected specimens distinctive from A. pskemense. A subsequent revision of all herbarium specimens in FRU and TASH with similar morphological features shows that recently collected specimens differed from A. pskemense due to important characteristics such as filament structure and distribution areas. Prior to that point, all collectors in Kyrgyzstan wrongly identified it as the closely related A. pskemense. The difference between the newly collected plants and A. pskemense is justified morphologically, genetically, and geographically. The plant from this IPA site has been named Allium pseudopskemense ined.
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan.
Distribution in FV. Foothills of FV.
Astragalus bosbutooënsis Nikitina & Sudn. in Izv. Akad. Nauk Kirgizsk. S.S.R., Ser. Biol. Nauk 1: 68 (1974)
Figs
Note. The species was described in the Bozbu-Too Range and was considered endemic to Kyrgyzstan (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic; foothills and low mountains of FV.
Astragalus melanocomus Popov in Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 10: 24 (1947)
Fig.
= Astragalus isophysus Nabiev in Bot. Mater. Gerb. Inst. Bot. Akad. Nauk Uzbeksk. S.S.R. 14: 20 (1954).
Note. The species belongs to sect. Chaetodon Bunge (
Distribution map of the species of sub-criterion Aiii, based on GeoCAT A Astragalus melanocomus B Astragalus pseudodianthus C Astragalus spryginii D Cousinia knorringiae E Cousinia krauseana F Echinops knorringianus G Eremurus czatkalicus H Ferula incisoserrata I Fritillaria rugillosa J Hedysarum gypsaceum K Hedysarum turkestanicum L Hyalolaena intermedia.
Existing Conservation Threats. Unknown.
General distribution. Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic; middle mountain belt of FV.
Astragalus pseudodianthus Nabiev in Bot. Mater. Gerb. Inst. Bot. Akad. Nauk Uzbeksk. S.S.R. 14: 21 (1954)
Fig.
Note. The species was described by
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic; foothills and low mountains of Kurama and Chatkal ranges.
Astragalus spryginii Popov in Dimo, Soil Invest. Exped. Rivers Syr-daria & Amu-daria 1: 51 (1915)
Fig.
Note. This is a representative of subsect. Spryginiana Kamelin with interesting morphological features. Within the sect. Xiphidium (more than 60 species in Central Asia) is distinguished by its life form (shrub) and is easily identified by its bare ovary and beans (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic; foothills and low mountain belts of FV.
Cousinia knorringiae Bornm. in Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 34(2): 201 (1916)
Figs
Note. This species is narrowly distributed in the western Tian-Shan and is endemic to Kyrgyzstan (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Foothills and low-mountain belt of Chatkal Range. Endemic to the Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa IPA site.
Cousinia krauseana Regel & Schmalh. in Izv. Imp. Obshch. Lyubit. Estestv. Moskovsk. Univ. 34(2): 48 (1882)
Figs
Note. The species belong to Cousinia sect. Jurineopsis (Juz.) Tscherneva, which is endemic to the Central Asian Mountains (
A new observation also confirms that the species has a narrow distribution area and is consistent with the latest data by
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Foothills and low-mountain belts of FV.
Echinops knorringianus Iljin in Bot. Mater. Gerb. Glavn. Bot. Sada R.S.F.S.R. 3: 173 (1922)
Fig.
Note. The genus Echinops L. in Central Asia represents approximately 45 species, and only 2 are annual plants (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Foothills around FV.
Eremurus czatkalicus Lazkov in Turczaninowia 14(3): 12 (2011)
Figs
Note. This is another new noteworthy record from the Uzbekistan part of the FV. This species was previously known from Kyrgyzstan, and the distribution area of this species was in the Aflatun River Basin in the southern Chatkal Range (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Foothills and low-mountain belts of Kurama and Chatkal ranges.
Ferula incisoserrata Pimenov & J.V.Baranova in Byull. Moskovsk. Obshch. Isp. Prir., Otd. Biol., n.s., 84(3): 87 (1979)
Figs
Note. The species is endemic to eastern FV with distribution in the Chatkal and Fergana ranges (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic; low and mid-mountains of Chatkal and Fergana ranges.
Regarding the diversity of geophyte bulbous species, FV is still an insufficiently studied area. This is evidenced by the fact that dozens of new species belonging to the genera Allium, Eremurus, Iris, and Tulipa have been described in the FV in the last two decades (
Fritillaria rugillosa Naumenko & Zubov in Int. Rock Gard. 140: 4–11 (2021)
Figs
Note. In all previous field studies conducted in this region, this species was identified as Fritillaria stenanthera (Regel) Regel, which is endemic to western Tian-Shan. However, this species of Fritillaria is widespread across all mountain ranges of the region. Only Naumenko and Zubov, the authors of F. rugillosa, paid attention to the differences between the two species and recognized the plants from eastern Fergana as a new species. According to the authors, F. rugillosa differs from F. stenanthera by an open/flat, wide-wheel-shaped perianth, sideways directed at flowering; perianth segments without a pronounced pinch between the nectary horn and the bend of a segment; dark, violet, or purple filaments, pubescent by 2/3 at a base, white and glabrous in the upper part, or sometimes fully pubescent along the entire length (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Foothills and low mountain belts of Chatkal Range.
Hedysarum gypsaceum Korotkova in Bot. Mater. Gerb. Inst. Bot. Akad. Nauk Uzbeksk. S.S.R. 14: 13 (1954)
Figs
Note. This species is known from the boundary area between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, where it grows on rocky slopes at 900–1500 m. The distribution area of the species almost coincides with the Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa IPA site. The majority of specimens stored in TASH were collected from the Kyrgyzstan part. The latest collection from the territory of Uzbekistan was in 1951 (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic; foothills and low mountain belts of Kurama and Chatkal ranges within the FV.
Hedysarum turkestanicum Regel & Schmalh. in Izv. Imp. Obshch. Lyubit. Estestv. Moskovsk. Univ. 34(2): 21 (1882)
Fig.
Note. The species is a narrow endemic to the southern slopes of the Chatkal Range. It was described in 1882 by Regel and Schmalhausen based on collections by Krause (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic; foothills of southern Chatkal Range.
Hyalolaena intermedia Pimenov & Kljuykov in Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 67: 887 (1982)
Fig.
Note. The species was described from the environs of Kyzyl-Tokay (South Chatkal, Kyrgyzstan) based on herbarium specimen of the authors of the species (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic; foothills of Chatkal Range (Naryn and Kasansay River Basins).
Iris narynensis O.Fedtsch. in Izv. Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 5: 159 (1905)
Fig.
Note. Iris narynensis is endemic to the low mountain belts of the FV (both in Tian-Shan and Pamir-Alay parts). The flowers are vaguely reminiscent of I. kuschakewiczii and its related species (
Distribution map of the species of sub-criterion Aiii, based on GeoCAT A Iris narynensis B Limonium ferganense C Oxytropis gymnogyne D Phlomoides adylovii E Phlomoides kirghisorum F Phlomoides alaica G Phlomoides urodonta H Scutellaria xanthosiphon I Silene fetissovii J Seseli giganteum K Seseli unicaule L Tanacetopsis ferganensis.
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic; foothills and low mountains of FV.
Limonium ferganense Ikonn.-Gal. in Trudy Bot. Inst. Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R., Ser. 1, Fl. Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 2: 262 (1936)
Figs
Note. Limonium ferganense is one of the few species of the genus endemic to the FV. The majority of populations of the species grow in the foothills of the Chatkal and Fergana ranges within the Naryn River Basin (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Foothills of Chatkal and Fergana ranges.
Oxytropis gymnogyne Bunge in Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint Pétersbourg, Sér. 7, 22(1): 25 (1874)
Fig.
Note. The genus Oxytropis DC. in Central Asia is mainly represented by species common in the mid and high-mountain regions (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Foothills and mid-mountain belt of Chatkal, Kurama, and Mogoltau ridges.
As one of the largest genera in Lamiaceae, Phlomoids Moench. is well known for its high local microendemism in Central Asia (
The tribe Phlomideae Mathiesen originally comprised six genera (
One of the centers of local endemism of Phlomoides is in the study area. At least 26 species of the genus grow in the FV; seven of them are endemic to the FV (
Phlomoides adylovii Lazkov in Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 36: 32 (2004)
Figs
Note. The species is considered one of the narrow endemic species of Phlomoides Moench. in the FV (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan.
Distribution in FV. Endemic; foothills of Chatkal and Fergana ranges.
Phlomoides kirghisorum Adylov, Kamelin & Makhm. in Opred. Rast. Sred. Azii 9: 99 (1987)
Figs
Note. Originally, the species was described as Eremostachys ferganensis Ubuk. based on specimens collected from the Bozbu-Too Mountains (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Foothills of Chatkal Range.
Phlomoides alaica (Knorring) Adylov, Kamelin & Makhm. in Opred. Rast. Sred. Azii 9: 107 (1987)
Figs
≡ Phlomis alaica Knorring in Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 15: 338 (1953).
= Phlomis knorringiana Popov in V.L.Komarov, Fl. URSS 21: 648 (1954).
≡ Phlomoides knorringiana (Popov) Adylov, Kamelin & Makhm. in Opred. Rast. Sred. Azii 9: 107 (1987).
Note. The type specimens described as Phlomis knorringiana Popov differ from Phlomis alaica Knorring (currently Phlomoides alaica) in having short stellate (not stellate with longer middle rays) hairs on the bracts and the calyx (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Foothills of Alay and Fergana ranges, Ak-Shyyrak, At-Oynok, Bozbu-Too, Chaar-Tash, and Moldo-Too Mts.
Phlomoides urodonta (Popov) Adylov, Kamelin & Makhm. in Opred. Rast. Sred. Azii 9: 106 (1987)
Figs
Note. According to Lazkov, P. urodonta is the type species of the monotypic series Urodontae Lazkov, characterized by white or whitish corolla and narrowly triangular calyx teeth on the sides without denticles (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan.
Distribution in FV. Low mountains of Chatkal Range.
Scutellaria xanthosiphon Juz. in Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 14: 367 (1951)
Figs
Note. Described from the Kugart river basin in the Fergana range, Kyrgyzstan. Alay and Fergana ranges in Kyrgyzstan cover the current distribution area of this species (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan.
Distribution in FV. Middle mountain and subalpine belts of Chatkal, Fergana, and Alay ridges.
Silene fetissovii Lazkov in Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 29: 66 (1993)
Figs
Note. Thus far, the species is known from only a few localities in stony-rocky outcrops of the belt of forests and bushes of eastern Fergana. It was described by
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan.
Distribution in FV. Middle mountain belt of Chatkal and Fergana ranges.
The Flora of Kyrgyzstan is recognized as rich in species of the genus Seseli L. (
Seseli giganteum Lipsky in Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 23: 140 (1904)
Figs
Note. The species belongs to the bi-type sect. Microseseli Pimenov (
S. giganteum is rare and endemic to the southern Chatkal. It was described from the valley of the Khoja-Ata river basin (
The species was recorded near the vicinity of Nanay village in the Uzbekistan part of FV. This is close to the Ungortepa massive of the IPA site (by Tojibaev K.Sh., Turginov O.T.). The species grows on the loessal slopes of open shrublands.
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan.
Distribution in FV. Middle mountain belt of Chatkal Range.
Seseli unicaule (Korovin) Pimenov in Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 11: 245 (1975)
Figs
Note. In contrast to the previous species, S. unicaule (sect. Sclerrhiza subsect. Lehmanniana Pimenov) has a wider distribution area and, accordingly, is represented by a large number of herbarium specimens kept at TASH, LE, FRU, WILR, and MW. The geography of the species was revised in detail by M.G. Pimenov (
During the recent field investigation of plant diversity in the Uzbekistan part of the IPA site specimens of S. unicaule were collected (https://www.plantarium.ru) from the neighborhood of Airbagsh village. Accurate investigations of all the surrounding areas did not give positive results. Based on field studies in 2019–2021, it can be concluded that the Uzbekistan populations are represented only in the foothills of Arbagish.
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan.
Distribution in FV. Middle mountain belt of Chatkal Range.
Tanacetopsis ferganensis (Kovalevsk.) Kovalevsk. in Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 9: 270 (1972)
Figs
Note. This species is endemic to eastern Fergana and is known from several localities in the eastern part of the Chatkal, Atoynak, and Fergana ranges (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan.
Distribution in FV. Middle and high mountain belts of Chatkal and Fergana ranges.
Ten species were included in category Aiv.
As noted by
Allium minutum Vved. in Byull. Sredne-Aziatsk. Gosud. Univ. 19: 124 (1934)
Figs
Note. During field observations in the vicinity of the Arbagish village in 2014 and later in 2021, a white-flowered Allium species was collected for the first time from the foothills of the Chatkal range in Uzbekistan. The species grew on the Artemisia steppe between 1100 and 1200 m. Detailed studies revealed that they did not match any Allium species reported from the foothills or low mountain belt of the Chatkal range. After examining all Allium species from FV, the morphological characters of these specimens were identical to those of Allium minutum Vved., which was previously recorded only in the Alay and Trans-Alay ranges, and in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (
The wild habitat of some plants in FV A Allium minutum B Astragalus syreitschikovii C Fritillaria sewerzowii D Jurinea winkleri E Lagochilus knorringianus var. drobovii F Polycnemum perenne G Pseudosedum ferganense H Tulipa bifloriformis I Leibnitzia knorringiana J Takhtajaniantha tau-saghyz.
According to
Therefore, the lack of data, especially regarding the distribution in the intermediate regions between Chatkal and Alay ranges, necessitated us to accept southern Chatkal plants as A. minutum.
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Middle and high mountain belts of Chatkal and Fergana ridges.
Astragalus syreitschikovii Pavlov in Byull. Moskovsk. Obshch. Isp. Prir., Otd. Biol., n.s., 44: 34 (1935)
Figs
Note. The species belong to sect. Myobroma (Stev.) Bunge in sensu
Distribution map of the species of sub-criterion Aiv based on GeoCAT. A Allium minutum B Astragalus syreitschikovii C Fritillaria sewerzowii D Jurinea winkleri E Leibnitzia knorringiana F Lagochilus knorringianus var. drobovii G Polycnemum perenne H Pseudosedum ferganense I Tulipa bifloriformis J Takhtajaniantha tau-saghyz.
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Foothills and low mountains of Chatkal Range.
Fritillaria sewerzowii Regel in Bull. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 41(I): 443 (1868)
Figs
≡ Korolkowia sewerzowii (Regel) Regel, Gartenflora 22: 163 (1873).
= Fritillaria discolor Mottet, Dict. Prat. Hort. 2: 431 (1893–1894).
= Korolkowia discolor Regel, Gartenflora 35: 349 (1886).
Note. Endemic to western Tian-Shan and one of the most ornamental species in the flora of Central Asia. Widespread in almost all mountain ranges of western Tian-Shan.
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Foothills and low mountains of Alay, Chatkal, and Kurama ranges.
Jurinea winkleri Iljin in V.L. Komarov (ed.), Fl. URSS, 27: 722, 616 (1962)
Figs
Note. The species are mostly distributed in FV. A disjunction is located in the Zirabulak low mountains (western Pamir-Alay). Current field surveys show that populations of the species survived only in the foothill zone. In the northern part of the valley, several isolated and fragmented populations are found in the Chust-Pap foothills (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Foothills of FV.
Leibnitzia knorringiana (B.Fedtsch.) Pobed. in Fl. URSS 28: 594 (1963)
Figs
Note. The genus Leibnitzia Cass. are a unique example of the Asian–North American biogeographic disjunction pattern (
Existing Conservation Threats. Farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan.
Distribution in FV. Middle mountain belt and highlands of Naryn River Valley, Talas, Chatkal, and Fergana ranges.
Lagochilus knorringianus var. drobovii (Kamelin & Tzukerv.) Lazkov, KH Bot. Monogr. Rev. Ser. 1: 230 (2016)
Figs
≡ Lagochilus drobovii Kamelin & Tzukerv. in Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 20: 166 (1983).
Note. Originally, the species was described as Lagochilus drobovii Kamelin & Tzukerv. and was limited to a narrow range in the villages of Shakaftar and Sumsar in southern Chatkal, Kyrgyzstan (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Low mountains of Chatkal Range.
Polycnemum perenne Litv. in Trudy Bot. Muz. Imp. Akad. Nauk 7: 81 (1910)
Figs
Note. The genus Polycnemum L. is represented by 7–8 species distributed in North Africa, the Mediterranean, Europe, Asia Minor, Siberia, and Central Asia (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Foothills and low mountains of Alay, Chatkal, and Kurama ridges.
Pseudosedum ferganense Boriss. in Trudy Bot. Inst. Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R., Ser. 1, Fl. Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 1: 112 (1933)
Figs
Note. The genus Pseudosedum (Boiss.) A.Berger falls into the category of medium size genus within Crassulaceae DC. and comprises about 14 registered taxa (
Previously, P. ferganense was recorded as a new species for the flora of Uzbekistan (
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing.
General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in FV. Foothills and low mountains of Alay, Chatkal, and Kurama ranges.
Tulipa bifloriformis Vved. in Opred. Rast. Sred. Azii 2: 320 (1971)
Figs
Note. The species is one of the most widespread tulip species, endemic to western Tian-Shan (
General distribution. Western Tian-Shan.
Distribution in FV. Northern foothills and low mountains of FV.
Takhtajaniantha tau-saghyz (Lipsch. & G.G.Bosse) Zaika, Sukhor. & N.Kilian in PhytoKeys 137: 72 (2020)
Figs
≡ Scorzonera uzbekistanica Czevr. & Bondarenko in Fl. Uzbekistan. 6: 436, 516 (1962).
≡ Scorzonera tau-saghyz subsp. usbekistanica, in Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 71: 1672 (1986).
Note. This species belongs to, perhaps, the most famous and interesting group of plants studied from an economic point of view. The discovery of a new rubber plant species (Scorzonera uzbekistanica Czevr. & Bondarenko) back in 1949 in eastern Fergana led to the explorations of this interesting territory. According to the authors of the new species, the discovered plants belonged to Scorzonera L. genus and differed from the already known S. tau-saghyz Lipsch. & Bosse (endemic to the Karatau mountains, western Tian-Shan, Kazakhstan) in a number of morphological features, first of all by “yellow latex, bare and on the edge of the jagged outer leaves of the wrapper and achenes, pubescent only along hardly noticeable veins”. These distinctive features made it possible to recognize the Maylisay plants as new (
Later,
Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands.
General distribution. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
Distribution in FV. Foothills of southern Chatkal.
The FV is one of the most densely populated regions of Central Asia and one of the major areas of concern regarding the conservation of natural landscapes. For centuries, the valley ecosystems have been under the pressure of anthropogenic impacts (
Human impacts on the environment by uncontrolled development and climatic changes have exacerbated the threatened status of numerous plant species and habitats in FV (
Within the FV Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa, the IPA site is important for wild plant conservation. Using the IPA criteria for the FV (
Due to research within the framework of the Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa IPA, the massif has become one of the most studied areas of the FV, where many endemic and threatened species of local flora are concentrated. Our research has shown that at least five species (Allium tatyanae, Astragalus bosbutooënsis, Corydalis bosbutooënsis, Hedysarum turkestanicum, and Iris austrotschatkalica) are endemic to this relatively small area, which is one of the highest rates in mountainous Central Asia. Of these, four species have been found and described by some of this paper’s authors (G.A. Lazkov, K.Sh. Tojibaev, and F.A. Karimov). It is also noteworthy that Iris austrotschatkalica was described as the result of the identification of the IPA site (
Our inventory of the flora within the study area has significantly enriched the known flora of Uzbekistan with species previously noted only in countries adjacent to Uzbekistan. Some of these new records have been published prior to this work, including those on Astragalus spryginii Popov, and Pseudosedum ferganense Boriss. (
The second IPA site in FV occupies a transboundary position between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The site was selected based on species endemism at national (Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan), regional (FV) and botanical province (Afghan-Turkestan province) levels. The research results of the current stage of IPA identification in the FV was completed in line with the core aims of the IPAs Programme (
The first studies on the identification of IPA sites were characterized by determining IPAs within different countries, and compiling lists of rare and threatened species (
Although the current data on the plant diversity of Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa IPA is satisfactory, the next stage requires extensive botanical research in the following areas: (1) comprehensive surveys to build up a basic inventory of the plants in the area based on grid mapping; (2) vegetation studies to determine and map the major vegetation types; and (3) targeted monitoring programs taking into account threats to rare habitats and species in the future.
Lastly, any serious conservation planning within the Bozbu-Too and surrounding transboundary area should implement proper socio-economic research programs to examine ways to engage local stakeholders (
The second phase of IPA research in the FV shows the effectiveness of the basic principles of IPA in the conditions of mountainous Central Asia. In contrast to the previous stage, here we explored a transboundary territory by combining the efforts of scientists in two neighboring countries (Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan). This is an important step in the creation of a regional database of rare and endangered species, as well as in that of a regional Red list, which can serve to focus conservation action at the transboundary level. Continuing studies, such as these in transboundary areas, contribute to increasing the level of floristic knowledge in poorly studied areas. Furthermore, the studies would attract the attention of government environmental organizations as well as international organizations at the global scale, to the conservation of threatened species and critical habitats. Capacity building requires the standardization of approaches, extensive field research on both potentially threatened species and critical habitats, as well as new research into the causes of plant habitat degradation.
This work was supported by research grants from the Korea National Arboretum (project no. KNA1-1-26, 20-1) and in the framework of scientific programs of the National Herbarium of Uzbekistan (TASH). It is also a part of the scientific program, Grid mapping of the flora of mountainous regions of southern Uzbekistan, funded by the government of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The authors are grateful to the TASH, FRU, MW, and LE herbarium curators. The authors would also like to thank anonymous reviewers for their insights that helped improve the manuscript.