Tulipa L.

22. Tulipa L. View in CoL 2

Bulbous perennials. Bulb-tunics usually lined inside with hairs, occasionally glabrous. Leaves cauline, few, alternate, somewhat fleshy, decreasing in size up the stem. Flowers usually solitary, occasionally up to 4. Perianth-segments 6, free, petaloid, caducous. Nectaries absent. Anthers basifixed, introrse; filaments dilated towards the base. Style short or absent. Fruit a globose or ellipsoid capsule. Seeds flat, numerous.

This genus exhibits the taxonomic difficulties which arise from long-established cultivation, hybridization and selection and subsequent naturalization in various areas. Many populations, especially in S.E. France, W. Switzerland and N. Italy, are certainly naturalized, but their exact origins are obscure. More cytological information is needed to help solve this difficult problem, which also involves numerous nomenclatural difficulties.

Literature: E. Levier, Bull. Soc. Neuchâtel. Sci. Nat. 14: 201- 312 (1884). W. R. Dykes, Notes on Tulip Species. London. 1930. A. D. Hall, The Genus Tulipa . London. 1940.

1 Filaments glabrous; perianth not abruptly narrowed near the base (Sect. Tulipa )

2 Tunic sparsely lined inside with straight hairs, or subglabrous

3 Perianth-segments obtuse to shortly acuminate, variously coloured; leaf-margins flat 8. gesnerana 3 Perianth-segments long-acuminate, scarlet; leaf-margins undulate 9. boeotica 2 Tunic lined inside with long, undulate hairs, forming a felt

4 Leaves less than 1 cm wide; perianth-segments white, tinged with red on the outside; tunic with a tuft of woolly hairs protruding from the neck 7. clusiana 4 At least the basal leaves more than 1-5 cm wide; perianthsegments red or orange, tinged with green or grey on the outside; tunic without a tuft of woolly hairs protruding from the neck

5 Perianth-segments c. 3 times as long as wide, elliptical to elliptic-oblong, acuminate; leaves green 11. agenensis 5 Perianth-segments about twice as long as wide, ovate to obovate, subobtuse to shortly apiculate; leaves glaucous

10. praecox 1 Filaments with a hairy boss near the base; perianth abruptly narrowed near the base (Sect. Eriostemoneś)

6 Tunic densely felted inside with undulate hairs

7 Leaves 5—7; perianth-segments more than 40 mm, dark reddish-orange or orange-brown 3. goulimyi 7 Leaves 2-3; perianth-segments less than 25 mm, white, with a yellow basal blotch 6. biflora 6 Tunic glabrous or sparsely lined inside with straight hairs, particularly towards the top

8 Perianth-segments yellow or cream, without a basal blotch inside 1. sylvestris 8 Perianth-segments white, pink, purple or orange-brown, usually with a basal blotch or zone inside

9 Anthers not more than 3 mm; perianth-segments not more than 30 mm 5. eretica 9 Anthers at least 5 mm; perianth-segments more than 35 mm

10 Leaves bright, shining green above, ± flat, the lowest one usually more than 2-5 cm wide; perianth-segments lilac-pink or purple, with a yellow basal blotch inside

4. saxatilis 10 Leaves deep, dull green above, canaliculate, the lowest one less than 2 cm wide; perianth-segments orangebrown or orange-yellow, sometimes with a darker basal blotch or zone 2. orphanidea Sect, Eriostemoneś Boiss. Filaments with a hairy boss near the base. Perianth-segments usually ciliate at the base. Perianth abruptly narrowed near the base, especially in bud.