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February
2008 |
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Quite
as precious and much rarer* for example than the marvellous Cypripedium
calceolus, Tulipa lortetii is unfortunately far from benefiting
of same regards. Indeed, the principal station of this endemic species
of the south of France, located at Gardanne, is victim of the worst
scenario than we could imagine for a plant however registered on volume
1 of "The Red Book of The Threatened Flora of France”. |
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Botanist
and President of association La feuille de Sauge, Vincent Delbecque
forwards to us this overpowering testimony : |
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"
In Provence (France) this weekend, I had the opportunity to stop
at Gardanne, where I hoped to find a station of tulips. In front
of the plants, I was really intrigued ; too much large to be leave
of Tulipa sylvestris, glaucous (thus not Tulipa agenensis), and
more erected than those of Tulipa raddii. As the species appeared
obviously very stoloniferous to me and that in addition of the
fact that I was in the district of the mythical tulip of Lortet, I
thought it was not really possible for me to doubt about its identity.
And when at this moment, a lady launched me :- " Ah, you
come to see the tulips ?!", I knew that it was really the rare
Tulipa lortetii! Alas, my joy was of short duration beacause I quickly realized that the station, known to shelter only approximately 150 individuals, was very seriously damaged, truncated by the earthwork of a recent construction. |
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>
click on picture to enlarge |
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Discussion
with the owners of the garden next located ; those questioned me in
order to know what they could do not to deteriorate even more
the station. I explained the utility of a specific and punctual clearing
(I had perceived some isolated plants by bushes choked) and pointed
out the exact localization of the plants. She says to me: " We
knew that it was around here, but we never saw flowers. From now
on, we will pay attention." |
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"Together,
we walked in their garden because they thought having seen other
leave further, but we find only some Iris germanica. The owner
told me the history of the site, which was his grandfather vineyard,
later given up to be transformed into a site of storage for...
potato bags! " We were worried to face a future buyer!",
this reflexion says long to me about the precariousness of this
station. Besides, our conversation was often covered by the noise
of motorcycles only ten meters from us... Finally, except for these obviously sensitized and charming people, everything is combined for its fast extinction. No flowers for this year apparently, too bad... I will conclude by saying that I am tired to find tulips of which populations are always being reduced." |
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Concerning
the protection on this species, French people have a world responsibility
! |
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| *
Until botanists of the Mediterranean National Botanical Academy of Porquerolles
recently discover a second population in a private garden, this species
was only known from this station. |
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On
this website: |
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Vincent Delbecque |
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Vincent
Delbecque |
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All rights reserved TULIPES SAUVAGES Association - 2002 / 2007 |
