Moluccella bucharica, Otostegia Bukharskaya Assessment by: Khabibullaev, B., Shomurodov, Kh. & Omar, K

Current Population Trend:
Decreasing
Habitat and Ecology
(see Appendix for additional information)
Moluccella bucharica is a rare endemic shrub (up to 120-150 cm) that grows on gypsum-rich areas of
variegated soils. Flowers appear in May-June and seed maturation occurs in August-September. It was
found that the optimum elevation range for the growth of this species (based on species distribution) is
from 1,100 to 1,500 m a.s.l.
Moluccella bucharica grows in the driest and hottest southern region of Uzbekistan (Surkhandarya
region). In the foothills where it grows, the average annual temperature is in the range of 11.76-13.95°C,
with an average annual rainfall of 204.73 mm (1980-2020). In the hottest summer months, the average
maximum temperature is 21.1°C and the soil temperature rises to 65°C, while in the coldest winter
months, the average minimum temperature is 6.21°C and the soil temperature can drop to -20°C (NASA
POWER).
The habitat of Moluccella bucharica is restricted exclusively to gypsum soils (Khabibullaev 2020), which
suggests a strong specificity relationship with gypsum soils. Such soils are considered to be the poorest
in terms of plant species composition.
Moluccella bucharica is associated with plant communities dominated mainly by Prunus spinosissima,
Zygophyllum atriplicoides and Artemisia sogdiana.
Systems:
Terrestrial
Use and Trade
(see Appendix for additional information)
The species is not commercially or traditionally used in Uzbekistan, but it has been collected for
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Moluccella bucharica – published in 2021.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T198563178A198563231.en
4

---

pharmacological testing by various scientific research centres.