A remarkable plant

At the end of April this year, comprehensive scientific research was conducted on the Ustyurt highlands. Alongside studying the wild fauna, specialists assessed the species diversity and vegetative condition of the local flora. During this period, the plant cover of the region was particularly pleasing to the eye, as several unique plant species were simultaneously in their active flowering and fruiting phases.

The study of the flora of the Ustyurt plateau dates back to 1825. The significant contribution of many researchers to this endeavor is mentioned in the scientific works of the renowned botanist Sh. I. Kogan, dedicated to the plant world of Southern Ustyurt. In his publications, the scientist provides valuable information about the relict and endemic species growing on the plateau. His data on the geographical distribution and phenological development of plants remain highly relevant to this day.

During field trips to Ustyurt, while taking photographs, I was fortunate enough to notice an unusual plant with spherical seed pods, and I immediately recorded the coordinates of that spot. Moving along the route for several more kilometers, we stopped time and again for observations and confirmed that this species is found everywhere here. As it turned out, this was the doubtful leontice (Leontice inserta), which I encountered for the first time. This representative of the barberry family (Berberidaceae) is a perennial and reaches a height of 10–20 centimeters. Underground, at a depth of 15–20 centimeters, it forms a bumpy, pear-shaped tuber. The plant prefers clayey, fine-stony, sandy, and saline areas, and its flowering period occurs in late March and April. It is worth noting that Leontice inserta was first recorded on Ustyurt by Sh. I. Kogan in 1947, in the vicinity of the Tamdy well and on the rocky slopes of the Kabegshem ridge.

In 2024, florist A. Pavlenko supplemented the scientific database with new data on the geography of this species during his research. Furthermore, during our expedition at the end of April this year, fruiting specimens of the doubtful leontice were recorded first in the Garnyaryk depression, and then 130–150 kilometers to the southeast of it. Local shepherds call this area Busgun. Thus, recent field trips have allowed us to collect fresh and valuable material on the phenology and range of this remarkable early-flowering plant. Another closely related species, Eversmann's leontice (Leontice ewersmannii), is also found in our country. It is widely known in the Kopetdag, the Greater and Lesser Balkans, the Caspian desert areas, Ustyurt, Badkhyz, and Koytendag. Its flowering time is March. In the second decade of March this year, right during the mass flowering of iridodictyums (irises) that painted the foothills in soft purple tones, flowering patches of Leontice ewersmannii were described in detail within the Gurykhovdan Sanctuary of the Kopetdag State Nature Reserve.

After the Ustyurt plateau, our expedition moved to the areas between the Yangysuv and Gyzylgup tracts, where the excellent condition of the plant cover was also noted. There, the large seed pods of Leontice ewersmannii were visible from afar and immediately drew attention. We saw for ourselves that the species thrives in these areas and forms abundant populations.

The multi-volume scientific work of the Hero-Arkadag, "Medicinal Plants of Turkmenistan," contains unique information about the healing properties of both species. In the traditional medicine of Central Asia, decoctions and remedies made from leontice tubers have been used since ancient times to treat various ailments. That is why the detailed study of the biology and mapping of the habitats of each such species within our country is of immense practical importance. On the whole, the past expedition to Ustyurt yielded rich material on many other representatives of the flora. The domestic botanists P. Kepbanov and A. Pavlenko provided great assistance to the author in the precise identification of the collected herbarium specimens.