JAKARTA - A species of tulip believed to have disappeared from the wild more than a century ago has reportedly been rediscovered in Amasya, northern Turkey last month, offering a significant breakthrough for botanical research and conservation efforts.
Known as the "Lost Amasya Tulip," the flower was discovered by a local nature lover, Ercan Eftelioğlu, while exploring the countryside of the province.
Eftelioğlu noticed the unusual tulip species and photographed it before sharing samples and images with botanists for identification.
Eftelioğlu said he immediately suspected the flower might be a long-lost species after noticing its resemblance to a tulip's description.
"I constantly explore nature. When I saw it, I thought it was very similar to the lost Amasya tulip," he explained, as reported by Daily Sabah and Anadolu Agency (5/7).
"I took samples, photographed them, and shared the findings with botanists," he added.
This discovery prompted a field investigation by Ismail Eker from Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University and Salih Sercan Kanoğlu, director of the Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanical Garden in Istanbul.
After examining the plant in its native habitat, experts confirmed it was the long-lost Amasya Tulip, a species that has been listed in scientific literature as extinct.
According to Eker, the tulip was first collected in 1892 and was last documented in 1896.
For the next 130 years, many Turkish and international researchers searched for the species in the region but could not find it.
"Today is an important day because we believe this plant has been lost," Eker said.
"After 130 years, we have seen that this plant survives in Amasya. However, its habitat is very limited," he said.
He said this rediscovery shows the species has managed to survive, despite decades without a confirmed sighting.
The researchers now plan to focus on protecting the tulip and preserving its habitat to ensure its survival.
"We will try to put the plant under protection and keep it alive," Eker explained.
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