Kandyk Siberian is a herbaceous perennial plant of the Liliaceae family. Included in the Red Book.
Kandyk Siberian: description
The plant is up to 30 cm tall. The bulb is 3-8 cm tall and up to 1 cm in diameter, narrowly conical, periodically almost cylindrical. Leaves closer to the base of the stem or in the middle in the amount of two; short-haired, opposite, elongated or ovate-lanceolate, monochromatic reddish-brownish or grayish-green, speckled with green spots, up to 15 cm long, 3-6 cm wide.
The Siberian kandyk, the photo of which is presented in this article, has a single flower, a large, drooping perianth, consisting of six leaves, bell-shaped close at the base, diverging and curving outward. Perianth leaves are pink-purple, lilac-pink, sometimes white, up to 7 cm long, up to 12 mm wide. The inner leaves at the base of the perianth are small, perpendicular to the outgoing.
Six stamens, twice shorter perianth, with oblong-linear anthers. Flat stamen filaments, spindle-shaped swollen in the middle and highly refined at the apex. Pestle slightly longer than stamens (approximately 20 mm long). The threadlike column, thickening at the top, with a 3-split stigma, in which the lobes are mainly bilateral. Reverse ovoid ovary.
Flowering occurs in late April. The fruit is an almost spherical, obovate, trihedral capsule up to 20 mm long and up to 12 mm wide. A little seed.
Geography
The Siberian Kandyk plant is spread in Siberia, in addition, it penetrates the mountains of Central Asia, Mongolia and China. The most numerous in southern Siberia, west of the Yenisei River: Altai, Kemerovo, Novosibirsk and Tomsk Regions, Khakassia. East of the Yenisei is less abundant. Eastern locations belong to the Western Sayan (Karatuzsky and Ermakovsky areas of the Krasnoyarsk Territory). It reaches the latitude of Krasnoyarsk in the north (mainly west of the Yenisei).
Taxonomic structure
Kandyk is characterized by significant variability. The local populations of the plant are heterogeneous, and often you can see nearby distinctly different species: with variegated and uniform leaves, flowers of different sizes and shades of lilac-pink. Many plants were introduced as the most decorative in the culture. As a result, new varieties were developed on their basis. Among them are the following:
- White Fang. It blooms in late April 30th. Pure white flowers with a yellow center, about 6 cm in diameter. Green leaves and peduncle.
- The white king. It is an early variety in which flowering occurs in mid-April. Pure white flowers with a lemon center framed by reddish subtle dots. Branches at the end acquire a chalmoid appearance. Bright green leaves.
- Olga. This Siberian kandyk blooms in late April. The flowers are pink-lilac, covered with pink dots, with a thin white border. Leaves are green-brown with a strip along the very edge. There are other types.
Ecology
The ephemeroid, bulbous geophyte, lives in birch-aspen, mixed and coniferous forests, is found in blackened taiga, and rises in the mountains up to 2800 m. It grows on unrefined moist soils.
Kandyk Siberian (photo can be viewed in this article) is one of the most flowering plants. It begins to bloom when the snow melts. In Southern Siberia, this period begins in April and ends in mid-May (which depends on the time the snow melts and the region). In the mountains, this happens later. During the flowering season there are snowfalls and night frosts. In this case, plants are exposed to relatively low temperatures and they are tolerated without any damage.
During cold snap and at night, kandyk closes the flowers, after sunrise - again opens them. In the case of warm spring, the plant fades very quickly. If the spring is long and cold, then the flowering of some plants can last more than two weeks.
It should also be noted that this plant is insect-pollinated. It is very actively visited by bumblebees and bees. Often sterile with self-pollination. Within a month, after flowering, mature bolls are formed with large seeds equipped with an appendage. The aerial parts of the flower after dispersing the seeds quickly, in 1-2 weeks, die. This happens in the lowlands by mid-summer.
Security status
Kandyk Siberian is included in the Red Book of Russia and the regions in which this species is found: Krasnoyarsk Territory, Khakassia, Altai Territory, Tomsk Region, Novosibirsk Region. Considered a vulnerable relict species. It should also be noted that local distribution increases the threat of the complete destruction of this species.
Despite the massive growth of Siberian kandyka in some regions, the threat of its existence as an aboriginal full-fledged species remains. Of great importance are the factors of deforestation of natural habitats, in addition, the collection of a species by a person for sale for food purposes or as a decorative early spring plant. In markets in Siberian cities, despite the state protection status of the species, in April they sell bouquets from this plant.
