Species conservation profile and revision of Salvia korolkowii (Lamiaceae, Lamiales), a narrow endemic of the Western Tian-Shan

A comprehensive revision of herbarium collections reveals that Salvia korolkowii, a narrow endemic plant species, is now recognized as the sole member of its newly established section S. sect. Odontochilus. This taxonomic and phylogenetic isolation underscores its unique evolutionary position within the Lamiaceae family. The study confirms S. korolkowii's presence in Uzbekistan, with additional records from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, previously considered questionable. Its conservation status is reassessed as Vulnerable (VU) due to severe habitat degradation and population decline, primarily driven by the destruction of its variegated outcrop habitats at lower elevations. The research highlights the critical role of thorough herbarium revisions in Central Asia for accurate species distribution mapping and effective conservation strategies.

Sennikov, A., & Turdiboev, O. (2022). Species conservation profile and revision of Salvia korolkowii (Lamiaceae, Lamiales), a narrow endemic of the Western Tian-Shan. Biodiversity Data Journal, 10. https://doi.org/10.3897/bdj.10.e89437