Abstract

Anethum involucratum is the last species of the Umbelliferae in the flora of Uzbekistan which remains taxonomically obscure due to the loss of its type material in Tashkent (TASH) where it should have been stored according to the protologue. A comparative study of descriptions of A. involucratum and species of Galagania was undertaken with a special attention to G. tenuisecta, a widely distributed and common species, with examination of herbarium collections from Kashkadarya viloyat, a type province of A. involucratum and adjacent Samarquand viloyat. This study demonstrated that the described features of both species are almost identical, and A. involucratum is placed in the synonymy of previously described G. tenuisecta. The previously proposed synonymization of A. involucratum with G. neglecta is rejected, and its previously designated neotype is superseded. The genus Anethum is excluded from the native flora of Uzbekistan."

Abstract

The taxonomic complexity of Iris (Iridaceae) is high, and its molecular phylogeny remains largely

unknown. With the growing availability of full plastid genomes of species representing major taxonomic

groups within Iris, it will become possible to produce a robust phylogenetic tree and reconstruct the

evolutionary history of the genus. With this objective in mind, we sequenced and analyzed the chloroplast

genomes of four species from subgenus Scorpiris native to Uzbekistan: Iris austrotschatkalica, I.

pseudocapnoides, I. victoris and I. hippolyti. The phylogenetic tree obtained agreed well with those

produced earlier with a limited number of chloroplast markers. We suggest as the most useful for

phylogenetic analyses of Iris the following loci that show high variability and lack of loop structures:

atpF/atpH, rps15/ycf1, atpA/atpF, trnL-UAA/trnF-GAA, trnG-UCC/trnR-UCU, and psaA/ycf3.

Abstract

The novel, phylogeny-based classification of Iris s.l. in the Mountains of Central Asia biodiversity hotspot has been developed. Fifty seven species are accepted and classified into 14 sections. The majority of accepted species (38) belong to the juno irises, which have a centre of their diversity in Central Asia and are represented by 2 sections; the largest I. sect. Juno is subdivided into 10 species groups, whereas I. sect. Physocaulon is subdivided into 2 subsections, each with 2 aggregates. The analysis of the geographical pattern of species richness revealed two areas of exceptionally high Iris species richness: Tian-Shan (14 species) and Hissar Mts. (21 species). A morphological description, sample photograph, geographical distribution, ecological data, point distribution maps, list of specimens and photographs examined, synonymy and nomenclatural type are provided for each species. A new identification key is compiled, based on morphology and phylogenetic relationships. Iris alberti Regel is reported for the first time from Uzbekistan. Four new combinations, Iris sect. Sclerosiphon (Nevski) Sennikov & F.O.Khass., I. subsect. Drepanophyllae (Rodion.) Sennikov, I. subsect. Rosenbachianae (Rodion.) Sennikov and I. parvula (Vved.) Sennikov, are established. The name I. kopetdagensis Vved. is validated with a type and description in English. Iris suworowii Regel is restored as the priority name for I. lineata Foster. Iris popovii Vved. is treated as a synonym of I. baldshuanica O.Fedtsch. & B.Fedtsch., I. pskemensis Rukšāns as a synonym of I. kolpakowskiana Regel, I. hoogiana Dykes as a synonym of I. darwasica Regel, and Iridodictyum kopetdaghense Kurbanov is reduced to a synonym of Iris reticulata M.Bieb. Iris almaatensis Pavlov is removed from synonyms of I. subdecolorata Vved. and considered a yellow form of I. kuschakewiczii B.Fedtsch. The nomenclature of I. sect. Regelia (Foster) Foster, I. parvula (Vved.) Sennikov and I. sogdiana Bunge is corrected. The names I. sect. Regelia (Foster) Foster, I. alberti Regel, I. bloudowii Ledeb., I. halophila Pall., I. hoogiana Dykes, I. lineata Foster, I. regelii Maxim. ex Regel, I. scariosa Willd. ex Link, I. sogdiana Bunge, I. stolonifera Maxim., I. suworowii Regel, I. tenuifolia Pall., I. tenuifolia var. thianschanica Maxim. ex Regel and I. vaga Foster are lectotypified, whereas I. suworowii is also epitypified.

Abstract

Although the distribution of Tulipa species in Uzbekistan is well documented, there is no clear understanding of the importance of three classes of environmental variables, climate, soil type, and topography, as determinants of their distribution. We mapped the richness of Tulipa species in Uzbekistan, and conducted species distribution modeling to analyze the contribution of climate, soil type, and topography, to their predicted suitable ranges. The relationship between Tulipa species richness and altitude is best described by a hump-shaped curve, with a majority of the Tulipa species occurring at the altitude range of 700-2200 m. The climate was a major determinant of species distribution for the majority of the analyzed species, however, topography (slope angle and aspect) was equally or even more important for T. tschimganica, T. borszczowii, T. butkovii, T. carinata, T. affinis, T. micheliana, T. sogdiana and T. korolkowii. Soil was an important factor only for T. uzbekistanica, T. butkovii and T. lanata. The conservation implications of these results are discussed.

Abstract

In this study, 13 morphological characters in 32 species of Eremurus (Asphodelaceae) from Uzbekistan were examined and subjected to cladistic analysis. In the consensus tree, species from subgenus Eremurus clustered together, but did not form a distinct clade sister to Henningia. The subrotate flowers, tepals with one abaxial nerve, and short stamens were found to be ancestral character states in Eremurus. Based on the morphological traits analyzed, a new key to identify the species of Eremurus in Uzbekistan is provided. The main synonyms, nomenclatural types, descriptions, ecological data, distribution and photos are also given for each taxon. Eremurus korolkowii and E. baissunensis are considered nonsynonymous with E. anisopterus and E. luteus, respectively.