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Pak. J. Bot., 40(4): 1783-1791, 2008. |
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Updated: 09-07-09 |
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A CONTRIBUTION TO SOME ETHNOBOTANICAL ASPECTS OF BIRJAND FLORA (IRAN)
SHOLEH GHOLLASSI MOOD
Abstract: Birjand is located near the Afghanistan border in eastern part Iran at the 57° 45´ to 50° 60´ latitude and 10° 31´ to 33° 15´ northern longitude with an altitude of 1419 m, and a surface area of 31704 Km. In this contribution some floristic and ethnobotanical aspects of the area are given according to the conventional methods used in taxonomical and ethnobotanical studies. All collected plants were identified using available flora. A total of 37 families, 128 genera and 160 species were identified from the area. The largest family is Asteraceae with 16 genera and 22 species and the largest genera are Salsola and Acanthophyllum with 4 species. About 40% of plants are used as medicinal plants, 47/8% pastural, 8/3% poisonous and 4% with industrial uses. The life form of plant species was determined using the Raunkier's method. Phanerophytes comprised 11/45%, chamaephytes 20%, hemicryptophytes 27%, chryptophytes 5/7% and therophytes 33% of the flora of the area. The most important medicinal plants of the area are: Achillea tenuifolia (Asteraceae), Berberis vulgaris (Berberidaceae), Ephedra procera (Ephedraceae), Crocus sativus (Iridaceae), Hymenocrater calycinus, Teucrium polium, Ziziphora clinipodiodes (Lamiaceae), Ziziphus jojoba (Rhamnaceae) and Pistacia atlantica (Anacardiaceae). The most important industrial species are: Ferula assa-foetida and Dorema ammoniacum (Apiaceae).
Faculty of Agriculture, Birjand University, Iran Corresponding Author: sghollassi@yahoo.com |
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