Kazakhstan Tien Shan (2019)

[Sophie]

Some of you may remember David's report from his 2016 trip to Kazakhstan (here: http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=14540.0).
I was lucky to be given the opportunity to lead the same tour this year in June.
While we explored the same two regions (Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve and Ile-Alatau National Park in the Western and Eastern Tien Shan), we had a slightly different itinerary.

After a day in Almaty, we got on the very comfortable night train to Aksu-Zhabagly, around 500km West of Almaty.
Arriving in the early morning in our guesthouse for the next 5 nights, we were greeted by this view:


We spent three days visiting the river gorges around Aksu-Zhabagly.



Roemeria refracta


Rosa fedtschenkoana (white), Rosa kokanica (bright yellow) and a potential pale yellow hybrid

Atraphaxis pyrifolia

[Sophie]

More from the gorges around Aksu-Zhabagly:

Rosa fedtschenkoana


Ferula penninervis in Taldybulak Gorge


Megacarpaea orbiculata


Allium karataviense


Allium barsczeweskii

[Sophie]

We spent one day visiting Aksu-Canyon (a 15 km long and 500m deep canyon)



Cousinia minwitziae


Scutellaria immaculata, growing in crevices on the slopes of the canyon


A great diversity of alliums, including Allium inconspicuum and A. eriocoleum

[Sophie]

The meadows near Aksu Canyon, with Allium fetisowii, Eremurus regelii, Gentiana olivieri, Tulipa greigii seed pods, several fennels (Ferula penninervis and F. tenuisecta)



Dactylorhiza umbrosa growing along streams


Oxytropis trichocalycina


The bright red fruits of Rheum maximowiczii

[Sophie]

A view point over the Karatau mountains


Ferula karataviensis


Lagochilus knorringianus


Schrenkia congesta


The wonderful Scutellaria subcaespitosa

[Sophie]

The endemic maple Acer tataricum subsp. semenovii


Crambe orientalis (does anyone know where to get seeds in the UK?)


Phlomoides/Eremostachys speciosa


Salvia aethiops


Another view with the tall spikes of Verbascum songaricum

[Sophie]

On the 3rd day we went to Mashat canyon, 30 km north-east of Shymkent, which isn't part of the Aksu-Zhabagly reserve. Although it isn't the most quiet of places (the bottom of the canyon is home to holiday camps, restaurants and theme parks), the scenery and the flora are fantastic. Due to the geological history of the region, the flora of the canyon is closer to that of the Karatau range. It is home to several tulip species, including the rare Tulipa lemmersii.



Cerasus erythrocarpa


Ephedra intermedia


Lagochilus platycalyx


Trichodesma incanum

[Sophie]

More from Mashat Canyon:



Convolvulus pseudocantabrica


Sergia severzovii


Capparis herbacea


Goebelia pachycarpa

[Sophie]

Eremurus sogdianus


Iris orchioides


Phlomis salicifolia


Centaurea pseudosquarrosa

[Sophie]

On the fourth day of the trip, we got taken by 4wd to the Kshi-Kaindy Mountain hut, where we climbed up the valley along the stream.

Horses near the hut


Geranium pratense


Pedicularis dolichorhiza


Rhinanthus songaricus


Richteria tianshanica (daisy) with Ephedra equisitina

[Sophie]

Allium hymenorhizum


Berberis oblonga


Rosa albertii


Hedysarum flavescens

[Sophie]

Cortusa turkestanica


Aquilegia atrovinosa


Clementsia semenovii


Dactylorhiza umbrosa is very common on stream banks

[Sophie]

We decided to walk the 10km down the valley, back to the guest house.

Siberian peashrub, Caragana arborescens


Both species of endemic apple, Malus sieversii and Malus niedzwetzkyana


A pale form of Allium severzovii


Pyrola rotundifolia


Stipa lessingiana

[Sophie]

Morina kokanica, growing on rocky slopes along the path

Codonopsis clematidea, growing above a stream in a shaded area


Linum olgae


Scutellaria linczewskii

[Sophie]

After 6 days around Aksu-Zhabagly, we got back on the night train, enjoyed a breakfast at the hotel in Almaty and drove up to the Alpine Rose guesthouse in the Ile Alatau National Park.
We spent the morning exploring a woodland area behind the guesthouse.

Clematis alpina subsp. sibirica


Trollius dschungaricus


Lathyrus gmelinii


Primula matthioli subsp. brotheri


Primula algida