Turkmenian belladonna (Atropa komarovii)

Turkmenistan Belladonna Komarov's belladonna Kopetdag belladonna
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey / License

Atropa komarovii - Turkmenistan Belladonna Botanical Profile

Growing exclusively in the rugged terrains of the Kopetdag Mountains, this rare perennial stands out due to its unusual flower coloration. It was first described by Soviet botanists in 1945 and named in honor of the prominent botanist Vladimir Komarov. The species is highly adapted to arid mountainous microclimates, making it a unique member of the Solanaceae family.

This plant is classified as an endangered or rare species due to its extremely narrow geographic range. All parts of the plant are highly toxic, containing various tropane alkaloids. It has been successfully cultivated in specialized botanical collections for study.

Taxonomy

  • ∟ царство Plantae
  • ∟ division Tracheophytes (Vascular Plants)
  • ∟ subdivision Spermatophytes (Seed plants)
  • ∟ Angiosperms
  • ∟ mesangiosperms (Core angiosperms)
  • ∟ eudicots
  • ∟ asterids
  • ∟ order Solanales
  • ∟ family Solanaceae
  • ∟ subfamily Solanoideae
  • ∟ tribe Hyoscyameae
  • ∟ genus Atropa (Belladonna)
  • ∟ species Atropa komarovii (Turkmenian belladonna)

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Morphology

This perennial herbaceous plant produces erect shoots with an alternate leaf arrangement. The simple leaves are distributed along the entire length of the stem. The flowers are solitary, displaying a distinctive yellow coloration accented with brownish-purple stripes.

Its fruit is a smooth, glossy-black berry with a subtle lilac or purple sheen. The seeds require specific temperatures between 11 and 24 degrees Celsius to successfully germinate. The chromosome count for this diploid species is documented as 2n=74.

Flowering season

Spring to early summer, with fruiting in July to September

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Applications

This rare species has been cultivated in botanical gardens and experimental stations for research purposes. Its primary application lies in the study of tropane alkaloids and their biosynthetic pathways. Because of its extreme toxicity, it has no domestic or ornamental use.

Interesting facts

  • This plant is an extremely narrow endemic, found naturally in only three gorges of the Southwestern Kopetdag range.
  • Unlike most belladonnas that have solid purple or pure yellow flowers, this species features yellow blossoms with distinct brownish-purple stripes.
  • It is protected by the state and listed in the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan due to threats from drought and human activity.

Geography of distribution

  • Turkmenistan
  • Iran

Sources

  • Plants of the World Online (POWO)
  • World Flora Online (WFO)
  • Red Book of Turkmenistan

Technical Information

External Databases: GBIF, POWO, Tropicos

See also

Deadly Nightshade

Deadly Nightshade

Atropa bella-donna

Atropa bella-donna, commonly known as deadly nightshade, is a highly toxic perennial herbaceous plant in …

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Yellow belladonna

Yellow belladonna

Atropa lutea

A rare, yellow-flowered perennial herb related to the deadly nightshade, belonging to the Solanaceae family.

Read more →