Kolkhian Cyclamen
In October of 2010, the staff group of ISU National Botanic Garden included Tsira Mikatadze-Fantsulaia, Davit Kikodze, Tinatin Barblishvili, Manana Khutsishvili and student Sandro Kolbaia discovered the new distribution areas of Kolkhian Cyclamen in the west Georgia. The staff group of ISU Botanic Garden is a partner of Kew’s Royal Botanic Garden Millennium Seed Bank (Great Britain) in Georgia.
The target species of plants defined through the field works funded by Raford Foundation (Great Britain) were discovered in the rocky limestone clefts in the valley of the River Khobistskali (Chkhorotsku district). Roman Tolordava, a nature-loving from Chxorotskhu, gave the photos of the species to the members of the expedition.
The Kolkhian cyclamen distinguishes with serrate leaves and aromatic flowers and the exploring of it holds the great importance to study the evolutionary history of kolkhian calcified flora.
The medical and decorative properties of the plant due to the threats of its extinction therefore the conservation of the species is important activity for a nature protection.
The seed supplies of the plant population is planned to be utilized for the reproduction of the species in quantity and to create live collections in National Botanic Garden of Georgia and Kew’s Royal Botanic Garden (Great Britain) as well.