A new species of the genus Ranunculus from the Western Tien Shan

Researchers have identified Ranunculus talassicus, a new species of buttercup endemic to the Western Tien Shan, distinguished by its triple-dissected basal leaves. Through a revision of herbarium specimens from collections across Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan (TASH, AA, TAD, MW, LE, KE, TK), the study determined that Ranunculus alaiensis, previously thought to have a Central Asian distribution, is restricted to the Pamir-Alay region. The new species was found exclusively in the northern Western Tien Shan at altitudes of 2400–3000 meters, marking it as a regional endemic. This discovery refines our understanding of Ranunculus taxonomy and highlights the biodiversity significance of this UNESCO-listed mountain range.

(Ed.). (2019). A new species of the genus Ranunculus from the Western Tien Shan. Sistematicheskie Zametki Po Materialam Gerbariya Im. P.N. Krylova Tomskogo Gosudarstvennogo Universiteta, (119), 14–24. https://doi.org/10.17223/20764103.119.2