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Pak. J. Bot., 40(4): 1533-1554, 2008. |
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Updated: 09-07-09 |
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PLANTS OF JAHAN NAMA PROTECTED AREA, GOLESTAN PROVINCE, N. IRAN
S. M. JAFARI AND H. AKHANI
Abstract: Jahan Nama Protected Area is located in the eastern parts of Alborz Mountains, between 36º35′ and 36º42′ northern latitudes and 54º08′ and 54º36′ eastern longitudes, with an altitude ranging from 800 to 3100 m. The complicated topography and habitat heterogeneity, in addition to influencing the area by humid Caspian climate at the north and Mediterranean-like climate at the south have caused formation of diverse vegetation types including deciduous montane forests, cold-resistant Juniper woodlands, montane steppes, grasslands and meadows, cliff and riverine vegetation. Based on collection of about 1350 specimens during 1999, 2000 and 2004 to 2007, a total number of 607 vascular plant species were identified from this area belonging to 329 genera and 85 families. The Dicots with 469 species are the richest group of flora of the area followed by Monocots with 119 species, Gymnosperms with 6 species and Pteridophytes with 13 species. The largest families in the area are Poaceae (53 species), Labiatae (50 species) and Brassicaceae (52 species), and the most diverse genera include Astragalus (16 species), Carex (11 species) and Veronica (11 species). The floristic composition of the area is strongly influenced by large number of Euro-Siberian (boreal) elements in the mesic parts and Irano-Turanian elements in the Juniper woodland and montane steppe parts of the area. The area inhabited by several endemic plants of the Hyrcanian and Kopetdagh-Khorassan floristic provinces in addition to local endemics of the eastern and Central Alborz like Ferula glaucopruinosa (Rech.f.) Akhani comb. nov. and trees like Taxus baccata which is considered as a protected and threatened species in Iran.
Department of Plant Sciences, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 14155-6455, Tehran, Iran Corresponding author: akhani@khayam.ut.ac.ir |
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