Hürmüz Yeniceli - Leopoldia babachii

Nombre y apellidos: Hürmüz Yeniceli

País: Türkiye 

Redes sociales: https://www.instagram.com/stories/citlenbik_mutfagi/

Título de la obra: Leopoldia babachii

Especie o elemento: Plant

Leyenda: The bulb is ovoid, 2.5–6 × 2–4 cm; the outer tunic papery, brown; the inner tunic membranous, creamy, and often marked with pinkish-brown or black spots. Leaves 3–5(–7) per scape, usually 4, recurved, linear to narrowly linear-lanceolate, canaliculate, 18–50 × 0.3–1.4 cm, margins entire; leaf margins usually glabrous or rarely slightly rough, the rest of the plant glabrous; apex obtuse to nearly obtuse. Scape solitary per bulb, erect, 25–70 cm long at flowering, usually longer than the leaves or sometimes equal to or shorter, elongating in fruit. Inflorescence a lax, cylindrical raceme, 8–30 × 2–4 cm at flowering, elongating conspicuously up to 50 cm in fruit. Pedicels of fertile flowers 2–8 mm long, spreading, shorter than the flowers, elongating very slightly up to 10 mm in fruit. Fertile flowers 10–14 × 2–4 mm, cylindrical to obconic-cylindrical, strongly constricted and shouldered near the apex; buds green; young flowers pinkish-red in the lower part, creamy at the apex, shoulders green; at maturity the lower part reddish-brown, the apex ivory-green or cream, shoulders brownish-black; lobes 0.5–1 mm, brownish-black (together with the similarly colored shoulders 1.5–2 mm), reflexed; mouth 1.5–3 mm. Pedicels of sterile flowers 3–15 mm long, ascending, semi-erect to spreading, ice-blue in color, longer than the sterile flowers. Sterile flowers 2–8 × 1–3 mm, narrowly tubular, shorter than the fertile flowers, usually ice blue, rarely pinkish with brownish-black tips. Capsule 6–11 × 6–10 mm, ovoid, not emarginate, valves swollen. Seeds 2–3 × 2–3 mm, ovoid, rounded or irregular, black, with a wrinkled surface.

Categoría: Ilustración Científica

Técnicas utilizadas: Watercolor

Inteligencia artificial: No.

Tamaño: 34 x 44

Año de creación: 2025

Descripción:

This illustration represents the botanical richness of the Amanos Mountains and the fragile existence of endemic species restricted to this region. Leopoldia babachii, a recently described geophyte endemic to Hatay in southern Türkiye, has a narrow distribution closely linked to the ecological continuity of this unique mountain range.

The work emphasizes the species' diagnostic morphological features — particularly the differentiation between fertile and sterile flowers, the structure of the inflorescence, and the proportional relationship of the plant organs — rendered with scientific accuracy.

Following the 2023 earthquakes that affected Hatay and its surrounding ecosystems, this illustration is intended not only as a taxonomic record but also as a visual reflection of the Amanos Mountains' exceptional yet vulnerable biodiversity.

This illustration was produced for the Illustrated Flora of Türkiye Project, a comprehensive initiative aimed at scientifically documenting the plant diversity of Türkiye through accurate botanical illustration.

The primary purpose of the work is to provide a clear and reliable visual record of Leopoldia babachii, an endemic species restricted to the Amanos Mountains in Hatay. The illustration emphasizes the diagnostic morphological features of the species, including the differentiation between fertile and sterile flowers, the structure of the inflorescence, and the proportional relationships of the plant organs.

By contributing to the systematic documentation of Türkiye's flora, this work supports taxonomic clarity and the visual preservation of narrowly distributed endemic taxa.

This illustration was developed to provide a scientifically accurate visual record of Leopoldia babachii. The work began with live observations of the species, field studies, literature review, and examination of herbarium specimens. During fieldwork, the natural colors, tonal variations, and details visible under varying light conditions were carefully recorded. Diagnostic features such as the differentiation between fertile and sterile flowers, the structure of the inflorescence, and the proportional relationships of the plant organs were documented in detail.

Technically, the drawing was first created as a pencil sketch to establish the main outlines, proportions, and structural details. Watercolors and colored pencils were then applied to render color, texture, and light–shadow relationships. The color observations from the field guided pigment selection and tonal transitions, ensuring both scientific accuracy and fidelity to the plant's natural appearance.

Artistically, the plant's natural posture was preserved, and the composition was arranged to be visually clear and balanced. Fertile and sterile flowers were positioned to attract attention and highlight the species' diagnostic traits. The final work achieves a balance between scientific precision and aesthetic presentation.