Gagea kotuchovii (Liliaceae) a new species from the Karatau Mountains (western Tian Shan, Kazakhstan) evidenced by morphological and molecular analyses

Researchers have identified and described Gagea kotuchovii, a new narrow endemic species of the Liliaceae family, exclusive to the Karatau Mountains in South Kazakhstan. This discovery was supported by both morphological and molecular analyses, including phylogenetic studies using nuclear DNA (ITS) and genome-wide sequencing (DArT). The species is distinguished by its unique bulb with a densely woolly sheath and the presence of multiple stolons of varying lengths on a single vegetative individual. Additionally, the study provides an identification key for Asian Gagea species with stolons, facilitating morphological differentiation. Phylogenetic analyses also revealed the species' isolated position while confirming its relation to morphologically similar taxa, contributing to the understanding of intergeneric organization in Kazakhstan and Middle Asia.

Kubentayev, S., Levichev, I., Baasanmunkh, S., Klichowska, E., Alibekov, D., Choi, H. J., & Nobis, M. (2025). Gagea kotuchovii (Liliaceae) a new species from the Karatau Mountains (western Tian Shan, Kazakhstan) evidenced by morphological and molecular analyses. PLOS One, 20(12), e0336223. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0336223