Vascular flora of Zarrin-Kuh Protected Area in Central Kopet Dagh Mountains, NE Iran: An annotated checklist

MOHAMMAD SADEGH AMIRI; SHAHRYAR SAEIDI MEHRVARZ; FARSHID MEMARIANI; MOHAMMAD REZA JOHARCHI

doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.574.1.2

Issue: Vol. 574 No. 1: 25 November 2022

Type: Article

Published: 2022-11-25

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.574.1.2

Page range: 32-60

Abstract views: 88

PDF downloaded: 2

Vascular flora of Zarrin-Kuh Protected Area in Central Kopet Dagh Mountains, NE Iran: An annotated checklist

MOHAMMAD SADEGH AMIRI⁺⁻
SHAHRYAR SAEIDI MEHRVARZ⁺⁻
FARSHID MEMARIANI⁺⁻
MOHAMMAD REZA JOHARCHI⁺⁻

Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran. Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.

Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

Herbarium FUMH, Department of Botany, Research Center for Plant Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad 9177948974, Iran

biodiversity chorology conservation endemism floristics Irano-Turanian new record Eudicots

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Abstract

Zarrin-Kuh Protected Area (ZPA) is a part of the Khorassan-Kopet Dagh floristic province of the Irano-Turanian region. In this research, we present the first checklist of vascular plants of ZPA along with the life-form spectrum, phytogeography, and conservation status. We conducted field surveys through several random collection efforts and vegetation sampling during 2015–2017. A total of 549 species/infraspecific taxa belonging to 69 families and 318 genera are recorded as native and naturalized plants. The most prominent families are Asteraceae (43 genera/72 species), Poaceae (29/44), Brassicaceae (31/43), Fabaceae (15/43), and Chenopodiaceae (24/41). The richest genera are Astragalus (21 taxa), Euphorbia (10), Acanthophyllum (8), and Allium (8). The therophytes (47.2 %) and hemicryptophytes (25.2%) are dominant in the life-form spectrum. Irano-Turanian elements (347 taxa, 63.2%) are the most common plants; however, the area is inhabited by several Iranian and/or Khorassan-Kopet Dagh endemic, rare and narrow-range plants, among which 17 species are threatened. Astragalus androssovianus Gontsch. is also recorded as new to the flora of Iran. Over-grazing and exploiting valuable plants are the most critical threats to the area. The results support more effective protection practices to ensure the conservation of the unique flora of Central Kopet Dagh.

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