New records of Tulipa suaveolens (Liliaceae) in Odesa Region

Abstract

New records of Tulipa suaveolens (incl. T. schrenkii: Liliaceae) in Odesa Region are reported. During 2017–2021, 23 localities of T. suaveolens with an area from 1.5 m2 to 730 m2 were found along 5.4 km of the right-bank slopes of the Kuyalnyk Estuary. The total area of all localities was 3458 m2 with a maximum plant density of 78 individuals per 1 m2. Almost all plants had yellow flowers; in some localities, there were plants with other perianth colors, but their number did not exceed 20 %. Based on the original and published data, it is demonstrated that the modern western border of the species range is located along the slopes of the Kuyalnyk Estuary. It has been established that the most negative impact on the steppe vegetation and plants of this tulip species is caused by insufficient precipitation. In particularly dry years (2019, 2020), most plants remained dormant. The habitats of T. suaveolens in the studied area are subject to significant anthropogenic influence and require specific protection measures.