Ostrovsky Tulip was described by E.L.Regel in 1884 from the vicinity of Almaty. It grows on the slopes among shrubs in the lower and middle belts of the Zailiysky Alatau, the southern part of the Chu-lli Mountains and the eastern part of the Kirghiz ridge. It differs in a high stem up to 25-40 cm with three converging grooved leaves and a large elegant flower of bright red, less often of orange color with a black or yellow spot in the center. Sometimes the flowers are pure yellow. It blooms from late April to mid-May. It is often crossed with Kolpakovsky tulip forming hybrid populations with a colossal variety of color variations. Such hybrid "thickets" on the Kurdai pass are especially colorful. The number is decreasing as a result of mass gathering for bouquets as well as development of mountain slopes for country construction. It is protected in the Almaty Nature Reserve and the lle-Alatau National Park and the Karakunuz Botanical Reserve.