Liliaceae

F. caucasica J.F. Adam in Weber & Mohr, Beitr. Naturk. 1:51 (1805). Syn: F. tulipifolia Bieb., Fl. Taur.-Cauc.1 :270 (1808); F. armena Boiss. var. lucida Hausskn. & Bornm, in Mitt. Thür. Bot. Ver, n.s. 20:47(1905). Ic: Bot. Mag. 28: t. 5969 (1872); Rix & Phillips, Bulb Book 80(c) (1981). Bulb to 2 cm dliam,, usually without bulblets. Stem 10-20 cm, smooth. Leaves 2-4(-6), all alternate, lowest 3-10 x 0.8-2 cm, broadly lanceolate to lanceolate, acute. Flowers solitary; perianth narrowly campanulate, rounded, often constricted at mouth, reflexed at apex, dark purplish-brown, sometimes greenish inside, usually with glaucous bloom; outer segments ovate to narrowly ovate, acute, 2.2-3.0(-3.7) x 0.5-1.2 cm, inner 0,6-1.4 cm broad, sometimes obtuse. Nectaries 4-5 x 1 mm, linear-lanceolate, greenish. Filaments 10-18 mm, slender, smooth or sparsely papillose, usually purplish. Style 9-17 mm, smooth or sparsely papillose, slender, entire. Capsule not winged. FL 4-6. Alpine pastures, clearings in coniferous forest, limestone rock ledges on peaty soil, 1100-2900 m.
Type: [USSR] ad thermas Constantinomontanas [in promontoris, Caucasi borealis], Mussin-Puschkin (holo. LE! iso. BM!).
N. & MX. Anatolia. A5 Samsun: Ladik, AkDa.,fromBaşalanKöy, İ700 m, Tobey 983! Amasya: 'Galatia', Maniss. 1150! A9 Kars: Sarikasıiş pass S.W. of Kars, Mathew & Tomlinson 4300! B8 Erzurum: Tech Dagh (Palandöken Da.) above Erzurum, 2300 m, Huet & Zohrab 651! 89 Erzurum: Karayazı, Çakmak Da., 2900 m, Watson et al. 16593 Ağri: Tahir Da., 2500 m, Rix et al 1632! B10 Kars: Doğubayazit to iğdir, 2500 m, Mathew & Tomlinson 4266!
S. Russia (Beştau), Caucasia, N.W. Iran. Hyreano-Euxiae (mt.) element. There are many intermediates between F. caucasica and other species in the group in N.E. Anatolia and Soviet Armenia. The following specimens are probably the result of introgression with F. assyriaca Baker, having the tall stem of F. caucasica, but much Earrower leaves, smaller flowers usually pale-coloured within and shorter, stouter, more papillose filaments and styles: A8 Gümüşane: Sari Koma pass, Furse&Synge 17! A9Kars: Sarikamiş, Rix 1660! B9 Ağri: Tahir Da., Rix 1641! BIO Kars: N.E. slope of Ağri Da., D. 43766! Other intermediates are discussed under ft pinardii.