Scientists from Ege University, Harran University and Aksaray University discovered a new plant belonging to the inverted tulip type in the Karakoçan district of Elazig. The plant, which was brought to the literature and whose scientific name is ‘Fritillaria karakocanensis’, was named ‘Karakoçan tulip’.
Veysel Sonay, who has a master’s degree from Şanlıurfa Harran University, Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Biology, saw that the flower he encountered in Sarıcan town of Karakoçan district of Elazığ was different from other species.
Thereupon, Sonay shared the example in a social media group with plant lovers.
Scientific study started
Seeing the photos, Ege University Biology Department lecturer Prof. Dr. Hasan Yıldırım contacted Veysel Sonay that this plant could be a new type of inverted tulip.
In this process, Aksaray University Biology Department lecturer Prof. Dr. Scientific study was initiated in consultation with Mehtap Tekşen.
A new type of inverted tulip…
Assoc. Dr. Mehmet Maruf Balos and Prof. Dr. In the study, including Hasan Akan, three university academics concluded that this inverted tulip, discovered in the Sarıcan town of Karakoçan, is a new species after detailed studies on the plant.
Compared to Iran and Greece
In the scientific article written by academics, the new species was compared with Fritillaria michailovskyi (yellow lip), which spreads in Erzurum, Kars and Ağrı provinces, Fritillaria reuteri, which spreads in Iran, and Fritillaria rhodocanakis, which spreads in Greece, due to its flower resemblance.
As a result of the studies, it was stated that the new species showed differences from other species with the flower internal organs, fruit structure and the structure of the leaves.
There are around 170 species in the world
Ege University Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Botany Department Lecturer Prof. Dr. Hasan Yildirim said:
“Our country is in a very important position in terms of inverted tulips. There are around 170 species of inverted tulips in the world. There are three important centers of diversity. One of them is California. There are about 21 species in California. There are 24 species of tulips in China, the second diversity center. In the third diversity center, which is the tip of Asia, where Turkey and Greece are located, 49 inverted tulip species were found together with this plant. We are the country with the highest number of inverted tulip species in the world. We are also at a very important point in terms of endemic numbers. 26 of 49 plants “When we look at the endemism rate, we see that it is 53 percent.”
“Yellow, bent neck”
Stating that the ‘Karakoçan tulip’ is mostly seen in early spring, Prof. Dr. Yıldırım continued:
“These are bulbous tuberous plants. Their flowers have a very graceful appearance. They are in the form of a bent, inverted tulip with yellow tips on a brown-reddish texture. It is a close relative of a plant known as ‘Weeping Bride’, which grows in Hakkari, Van. In particular, the potential of ornamental plants is quite high. Many plant collectors, especially abroad, have their eyes on our country in this sense because these species are indeed one of the plants that are smuggled abroad. In this sense, it is necessary to be careful. It is a country that is in front of it. It is a plant with thin, long leaves that can grow up to about 25-30 centimeters in length.”
