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This tulip, photographed here against the sun appears to be bright scarlet,
but in normal reflected light resembles its common name -Black Tulip. (Note
that the scarlet flower with yellow inside is considered by botanists to be a
distinct species, Tulipa agenensis).
The cup or the solitary head,
has 6 oval petals with pointed tips, the black basal blotch on each petal
being only slightly bordered by yellow; stamens thick and sturdy, with bright
yellow polen borne on dark red oblong anthers; stigmas creamy, conspicuous on
top of the ovary. Stalk 30 cm high,pale yellow-green. Leaves at bases
spreading sideways, about 20 cm long, grey-green with undulating margins;
those part-way up the stem smaller, narrower and sharply-pointed.
Habitat:
Mostly in cereal fields, hidden below the level of the wheat, but in great
numbers; 400-900 ft alt. Flowers March to April.
Distribution:
Northern Cyprus only; Tulipa agenensis occurs in Aegean islands, Turkey,
Syria, Israel and Iran.
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From:
Hallliday, S., & Lushington, L., (1988), Flowers of Northern
Cyprus, Angus Hudson Ltd, London. |
