Because these ‘upside-down’ flowers only bloom for about 20 days a year, authorities have introduced a hefty fine to prevent people from plucking them
With the arrival of spring, the unique upside-down tulips, also known as the “crying bride”, began to bloom in the southeastern Turkish province of Siirt, attracting the attention of nature lovers in the mountains and gardens of the city with their unusual beauty, writes “Maritsa”.
Since these “upside down” flowers only bloom for about 20 days a year, the authorities imposed a significant fine to prevent people from plucking them.
These unique tulips, which grow in the mountainous regions of Anatolia during spring days, have begun to bloom with the warming of the weather, creating fascinating landscapes, local mountaineers say.
The Nature Conservation and National Parks Directorate in Siirt announced that those who pluck the unique tulips will be fined 244,315 Turkish lira (BGN 22,720) for “destruction of biological diversity”.
According to the statement of the authorities, residents who visit the areas where the tulips grow should be especially careful in this matter, as each endemic plant is valuable in its region and should be protected.
In our country, this species is known as Khodja’s tulip. It is a beautiful, delicate flower, from the Cream/Lily family. The territories of Afghanistan, Iran, and the Himalayas are considered his homeland. You will meet it under several names – Fritillaria, Vedritsa and Emperor’s Crown. It really has an aristocratic appearance with its approximately 90 cm high stem, at the end of which, just like a crown, is a wreath of downward-facing bells, and above them small green leaves. It blooms in April-May in different colors – red, orange, yellow, pink, white, cream, green, purple, but there are also patterned varieties.
It is a bulbous plant and can be grown as an annual or perennial.
In addition to being beautiful, the Hodge’s tulip can also be useful, because it releases aromatic juices and their smell drives away moles and unwanted guests in the garden.
A peculiarity of the plant is that it contains poisonous substances and should be kept away from children and pets.
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