Integrative taxonomic revision concerning phylogenetic relationships, morphological variation, distribution, ecology and conservation of Gagea alberti (Liliaceae) within its natural range


Kubentayev S. Levichev I. Nobis M. Baasanmunkh S. Klichowska E. Orazov A. Alibekov D. Kubentayeva B. Choi H.J.
December 2025Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH

Botanical Studies
2025#66Issue 1

Background: The genus Gagea is one of the largest and most complex members of the family Liliaceae, and comprises more than 320 species. Gagea is taxonomically challenging because of its morphological variations, polyploidization, hybridization and potential to inhabit ecologically diverse environments. In this study, we investigated the taxonomy, morphology, conservation, distribution and phylogeny, of Gagea alberti across within its natural range. Results: Gagea alberti iswidely distributed in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, southern Russia, western China, and Mongolia. This species exhibited high ecological plasticity and phenotypic variability. Based on extensive morphological and phylogenetic analyses, we treated G. altaica and G. sarysuensis as synonyms of G. alberti. The conservation status of this species was assessed as least concern (LC) at a global level. We provide detailed analytical and morphological illustrations of the ontogeny of G. alberti. Furthermore, we provide a checklist of section Plecostigma, including G. alberti, along with a brief morphological description of the section. Conclusions: This study provided new insights into the morphology, phylogeny, and distribution of G. alberti, a species characterized by high ecological plasticity and phenotypic variability. The high ecological plasticity and phenotypic variability of G. alberti are the results of a long-term evolutionary process that enabled the species to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions.

Biodiversity , Central Asia , Gagea , Goose onion , Phylogeny , Section

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Astana Botanical Garden, Astana, 010016, Kazakhstan
Komarov Botanical Institute of RAS, Saint Petersburg, 190000, Russian Federation
Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
Department of Biology and Chemistry, Changwon National University, Changwon, 51140, South Korea
Laboratory of NatureLaB, Astana International University, Astana, 020000, Kazakhstan

Astana Botanical Garden
Komarov Botanical Institute of RAS
Institute of Botany
Department of Biology and Chemistry
Laboratory of NatureLaB

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