Flora Diversity in Burned Forest Areas in Dehdez, Iran

Folia Forestalia Polonica, series A, 2013, Vol. 55 (1), 33–41 ORIGINAL ARTICLE

DOI: 10.2478/ffp-2013-0005

Flora diversity in burned forest areas in Dehdez, Iran

Asadollah Mataji1, Hadi Kia Daliri1, Sasan Babaie1, Siroos Jafari2, Sina Attar Roshan1 

1 Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Campus, Faculty of Natural Resources, Forestry Department, Tehran, Khuzestan Province, Ahwaz, Iran, phone: +980611-3730779, +9809167246447, e-mail: [email protected] 2 Ramin Agricultural and Natural Resources University, Khuzestan, Iran

Abstract

Flora identified within a region plays an important role in maintaining national natural reserves. Iran is one of the most important centers of plant diversity in the Old World (22% endemic species of 8000 plant species). Dehdez burned forest area is located in the southeastern Khuzestan province. The field data were obtained from 115 sample plots in a systematic random grid (20 m × 20 m). The attributes such as tree and shrub species type, the number of species and canopy coverage were recorded. Within each sample plot small and large crown diameters were measured. In order to record herbaceous species, the Whitaker’s snail plot method was applied (100 m² minimum plot area). In this study, 240 plant species were assessed and identified to 158 genera and 42 families. Asteraceae family with 33 species, Papilionaceae with 32 species, Poaceae with 29 species, Apiaceae with 27 species and Lamiaceae with 18 species prevailed and constituted 57.9% of all the plants observed. Investigation of species life forms showed that Hemicryptophyte plants were most important. Chorological study showed that species found in Irano-Turanian and Common areas of Irano-Turanian and Mediterranean eruption were the most important ecological groups in the region, while other chorotypes were positioned far from the next in importance.

Key words flora, plant geography, Khuzestan province, diversity, life forms

Introduction ferent classification of the life forms, and among them Raunkier system is most commonly used. This system Iran with approximately 1.65 million km2 area is a large is based on the position of vegetative buds observed af- country and except for Turkey it is the richest country ter a unfavorable for growth season. Plants are divided in the Middle East in terms of plant diversity (White in the six main groups: Phanerophyte, Chamaephyte, and Leonard 1991). The country is one of the centers of Hemicryptophyte, Cryptophyte, Therophyte and Epi- plant diversity considered in the Old World with near- phyte (Asri 1999). The life form also depends on genet- ly 22% endemic species of 8000 plant species of flora ics and environmental factors, Certain environmental (Ghahreman 1994). The life form of any plant is fixed conditions can trigger shaping different, undeniable to developement based on morphological adaptation forms of plants. The spectrum of dominant life forms of plants to environmental conditions. There are dif- in a given climate, represents how adaptation of plants

© 2013 by Forest Research Institute © 2013 by Polish Academy of Sciences Received 27 November 2012 / Accepted 20 March 2013 34 Asadollah Mataji, Hadi Kia Daliri, Sasan Babaie, Siroos Jafari, Sina Attar Roshan

to climate is exceptional. The ecological range of each plant species has certain and unique amount of changes which will endure in environmental conditions. Field distribution of species may be limited or wide (Asri 1998). Vegetation of each region indicates specific important features and phenomena of nature and is the best guide in judgments concerning ecological factors in the region. Plants are resistant organisms that tolerate all environmental conditions and occurrences over the long term, including environmental stress (Meymandi Nezhad 1973). In any country, information Khuzestan province Map of Iran on vegetation status – not just infrastructure develop- ment and scientific activities in the field – has com- mercial applications. It can also play an important role in restoration and use of natural resources (Shahsavari 1998). Identification of plant vegetation and geography of each region based on regional ecological research and reviews provides for effective appraisal of current and anticipated future nature status, and in this con- text proper management practices at a regional level play an important role (Shahsavari 1994). The position Eizeh Topogra c map of Dehdez of regional studies on plants and plant geography has Fig. 1. Map of studied area been more and more recognized in the global network of regional nature conservation (Iran Nezhad Parizi et The study site covers an area of 238 ha. The altitude al. 2001). Floristic research is one of the most effective there is 1950–2204 m a.s.l. According to Eizeh weather methods in the management and protection of genetic station statistics, average precipitation and mean annual resources (Akbarinia et al. 2004). temperature are 596 mm and 19.1°C, respectively. In As a general rule, the identification of vegetation terms of climate the area based on coefficient method of an area and studies on biodiversity are particularly drought, De Marton (19.81) with semi-arid climate and important as research basis in environmental sciences is based on the method of Amberger coefficient (60.86) (Stace 1989). Quick and easy access to a particular plant is placed in the range of sub-humid climate areas. species at its site and given time to determine the po- The field data were obtained using 115 sample plots tential and capability of vegetative region (Stace 1989). (20 m × 20 m) in a systematic random grid. The at- This study is very useful for planning with reference to tributes observed included tree and shrub species, the reclamation and management of valuable species. The number of species and canopy coverage were recorded study had been carried out for the first time in South- and small and large crown diameters were measured west Iran with the aim to precisely identify plant spe- in each sample plot. In order to record herbaceous species, especially those of local plants so as to review their cies, the Whitaker’s nested sampling plot method was chorotypes and life forms. used, and the minimum area of 100 m² was determined. In the intercept, the area and the number of species for each plot were drawn to the X and Y axes, respec- Material and methods tively. In the intersection point where the curve became horizontal, a vertical line was drawn toward the X- axis The burned forest study area is located in Southwest (Muller and Ellenberg 1974). In this study, the above- Iran in Khuzestan province; between (31°41’45”) and mentioned minimum plot area was obtained as 81 m². (31°42’15”) eastern longitude and (50°18’20”) and The plot area was considered as 100 m² with the aim to (50°19’15”) northern latitude (fig. 1). increase precision.

Folia Forestalia Polonica, series A, 2013, Vol. 55 (1), 33–41 Flora diversity in burned forest areas in Dehdez, Iran 35

Plant samples were identified at the Islamic Azad 1 2 3 4 Eryngium bungi Boiss. He IT University herbarium in Ahwaz with the use of valid Ferula haussknechtii Wolff references such as Flora Iranica (Rechinger 1998), Flora He IT ex Rech. f. of Iraq (Townsen et al. 1985), Flora of Turkey (Davis Ferula stenocarpa Boiss. 1965– 1985), Flora of Iran (Asadi et al. 1988), Flora of He S &Hausskn. Khuzestan (Mozaffarian 1999), Flora of Ilam (Mozaf- Ferula ovina (Boiss.) Boiss. He IT farian 2007), Flora of Iran (Ghahreman 1975– 1999) and Haussknechtii elymitica other applicable resources. He IT Boiss. The life forms of plants were determined by Raun- Legoecia speculum-veneris kier method (Raunkier 1934). Geographical distribution Th IT, M (L.) chaix of species was determined based on vegetative areas classified by Zohary (Zohary 1963, 1973) and Takhtajan Malabalia secacul (Miller) Boiss subsp. aucheri (Boiss.) He IT (Thakhtajan 1986). c.c. Townsend Ferulago macrocarpa (Fenzt) He IT Boiss. esults R Apiaceae Ferulago angolata (Schlecht.) Boiss. Subsp. He IT In 2012, 240 plant species from the study area were angolata examined and classified into 158 genera and 42 fami- Pimpinella eriocarpa Banks Th IT lies. The list of families, species, life forms and their & soland. distribution is presented in tab. 1. Pimpinella tragium Vill. Th IT Prangos uloptera Dc. He IT Tab. 1. Plant families, species, life forms and chorotypes in Pycnocycla caespitosa Boiss. He IT Dehdez burned forest & Hausskn. Life Choro- Scandix pectin-veneris L. Th IT, M, ES Family Species forms types Smyrniopsis aucheri Boiss. He IT 1 2 3 4 Smyrnium cordifolium Boiss. He IT, M Aceracae Acer monspessulanum L. Ph IT Torilis leptophylla (L.) Amaryl- Ixiolirion tataricum (Pall.) Th IT, M, ES Ge IT Reichenb. lidaceae Herb. Trugenia latifolia (L.) Hoffm. Th IT, ES Pistacia atlantica Desf. Ph IT Anacar- Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch He IT, S diaceae Pistacia khinjuk Stocks Ph IT Achillea filipendula Lam. He IT, S Azilia eryngioides (Pau) He IT Anthemis persica Boiss. He IT Hedge & Lamond Anthemis wettsteiniana Hand. Bifora testiculata (L.) Spreng Th IT, ES Th IT –Mzt. Bunium persicum (Boiss.) He IT Artemisia aucheri Boiss. Ch IT B. Fedtsch Artemisia haussknechtii Chaerophyllum macropodum Ch IT He IT Astera- Boiss. Boiss. ceae Apiaceae Atractylis cancellata L. Th M Dorema aucheri Boiss. He IT, M, ES Carduus getulus Pumel. He S Ducrosia anethifolia (Dc.) He IT, ES Boiss. Centaurea pabotii Wagenitz He IT, S Centaurea bruguierana Ducrosia flabellifoliaBoiss. He IT, ES Th IT, S (Dc.) Eryngium billardieri F. He IT Delaroche Centaurea inttricata Boiss. He IT Eryngium caucasicum Trautv. He IT Centaurea virgata Lam. He IT

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1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 Carthamus oxyacantha M. B. Th IT Arenaria persica Boiss. Th IT, M, ES Crepis sancta (L.) Babcock Th IT, M, S Dianthus crossopetalus Ch IT Cichorium intybus L. He Cosm (Fenzl ex Boiss.) Grossh. Dianthus orientalis Adams. Cichorium pumilum Jacq. Th IT, M Ch IT Subsp. Orientalis Cirsium congestum Fisch. & He IT Caryo- Minuartia hybrida (Vill.) C. A. May. ex Dc. Th IT, M, ES phylla- Schischk. Subsp. hybrida Astera- Cirsium spectabile Dc. Ge IT ceae ceae Paronaychia arabica (L.) Dc. He S Cousinia haussknechtii C. He IT Winkl. Silene conoidea L. Th IT, M Echinops erioceras Bornm. He IT Velezia rigida L. Th IT, M, ES Acanthophyllum Gundelia tournefortii He IT Th IT, M microcephalum Boiss. Hedypnois rhagadioloides (L.) F. W. Schmidt subsp. Th IT, M Convolvulus arvensis L. He Cosm cretica (L.) Hayek Convolvulus buschiricus Convol- He S Bornm. Koelpinia linearis Pall. Th IT vulaceae Convolvulus stachydifolius Lactuca serriola L. Th IT He IT Choisy Notobasis syriaca (L.) Cass. Th IT, M Sedum hispanicum L. Th M, ES Onopordon leptolepis Dc. He IT, S Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Th Cosm Outreya carduiformis Jaub. He IT Diplotaxis harra (Forssk.) & Spach He IT, ES Boiss. Picris strigosa M. B. subsp. Astera- He IT Crassu- Euclidium syriacum (L.) R. kurdica Lack Th IT ceae laceae Br. Picnomon acarna (L.) Cass. He IT Crucife- Isatis raphanifolia Boiss. Th IT Scariola orientalis (Boiss.) rae He IT Sojak Neslia apiculta Fisch. et Mey. Th IT Sonchus oleraceus L. Th Cosm Raphanus raphanistrum L. Th IT, ES Sisymbrium officinale (L.) Tanacetum polycephalum He IT Schultz-Bip. Subsp. He IT Scop. Polycephalum Cephalaria dichaetophora Th IT, M Anchusa strigosa Labill. He IT, M Dipsaca- Boiss. Arnebia decumbens (Vent.) ceae Pterocephalus brevis coult. Th IT, M He IT Coss. & Kral Scabiosa calocephala Boiss. Th IT Gastrocotyle hispida Euphorbia microsciadia Th IT, S He IT Boragi- (Forssk.) Juss. Euphor- Boiss. naceae biaceae Onosma bulbotrichum Dc. He IT Euphorbia peplus L. He IT Onosma dasytrichum Boiss. He IT Faga- Quercus brantii Lindl. Ph IT Onosma rostellatum Lehm. He IT ceae Centaurium pulchellum Rindera lanata Pall. He IT Th IT Gentia- (Swartz) Druce Campanula cecilii Rech. F. & ceae Th IT Campan- Schiman-Czeika Gentiana olivieri Griseb. Ge IT ulaceae Campanula perpusilla Dc. He IT Biebersteinia multifida Dc. He IT Erodium pulverulentum Cappari- Th IT, M, S Cleome iberica Dc. Th IT, ES Gerania- (Cav.) Willd. daceae ceae Caprifo- Lonicera nummulariifolia Geranium dissectum L. Th IT, M, ES Ph IT liaceae Jaub. & Spach Geranium rotundifolium L. Th IT, M, ES

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1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 Hypericum helianthemoides Papaver dubium L. Th IT, M, ES Hyperi- He IT Papav- (Spach) Boiss. Papaver macrostomum Boiss. caeae eraceae Th IT Hypericum perforatum L. He IT & Huet ex Boiss. Hyperi- Astragalus adscendens Boiss. Hypericum scarbrum L. He IT He IT, S caeae & Hausskn Lamium amplexicule L. Th IT, M, ES Astragalus argyrostachys He IT Marrubium austracanicum Boiss. He IT, M Jacq. Astragalus callistachys Ch IT Marrubium persicum C. A. Boiss. et Buhse He IT Mey. Astragalus caprinus Dc. He IT, S Mentha longifolia (L.) Ge Cosm Astragalus cemerinus Beck. Ch IT Hudson var.petiolata Boiss. Astragalus cephalanthus Dc. Ch IT Nepeta persica Boiss. He IT Astragalus fasciculifolius Ph IT, S Phlomis bruguieri Desf. He IT Boiss. Phlomis olivieri Benth. He IT Astragalus gypsicolus He IT Phlomis persica Boiss. He IT Maassoumi. & Mozaffarian Salvia macrosiphon Boiss. He IT Astragalus gossypinus Fisch. Ch IT Lamiac- Astragalus obtusifolius Dc. He S eae Salvia compressa vent. He IT Salvia reuterana Boiss. He IT Papili- Astragalus sieberi Dc. He IT, S Salvia syriaca L. Ge IT onaceae Ebenus stellata Boiss. Ch IT Glycyrrhiza glabra L. Var. Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl. He IT, M, ES He IT, M, ES glabra Teurium polium L. Ch IT, M Hymenucarpus circinnatus Teucrium oliverianum Th M He IT (L.) Savi Gingins. Lathyrus inconspicuus L. Th IT, ES Thymus kotschyanus Boiss. Ch IT Mediacago coronata (L.) & Hohen. Th IT, M Ziziphora capitata L. subsp. Bartilini orientalis Samuelsson ex Th IT, M Medicago minima (L.) Th Cosm Rech. F. Bartilini Ziziphora tenuir L. Th IT Medicago orbicularis (L.) Th Cosm Allium atroviolaceum Boiss. Ge IT Bartilini Allium eriophyllum Boiss. Medicago polymorpha L. Th IT, M, ES Ge IT var. eriophyllum Medicago radiate L. Th IT Liliaceae Allium colchicifolium Boiss. Ge IT Medicago rigidula (L.) All. Th IT, M Allium hirtifolium Boiss. Ge IT, S Medicago sativa L. He Cosm Muscari tenuiflorum Tausch Ge IT Onobrychis crista-galli (L.) Th M Tulipa clusiana Dc. Ge IT Lam. Lythra- Onobrychis cornuta (L.) Lythrum salicaria L. He IT, ES, S Ch IT ceae Desv. Subsp. cornuta Alcea angulata (Freyn & Papili- Ononis reclinata L. Ch IT He IT Sint.) Freyn ex lljin onaceae Trifolium campestre Schreb. Th IT, M, ES Alcea aucheri (Boiss.) Alef. He IT Trifolium clusii Godron & Malva- Th IT, M ceae Helianthemum salicifolium Gren. Var. Kahiricum zoh. Th IT, M, S (L.) Trifolium stellatum L. Th M Malva parviflora L. Th IT, M Trifolium tomentosum L. Th IT, M, ES

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1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 Trifolium resupinatum L. Th IT, M, ES Trachynia distachya (L.) Papili- Th IT, M, S Vicia monantha Retz. Th IT Poaceae Link. onaceae Vicia villosa Roth Th IT Vulpia myuros (L.) j. f. Gmel. Th IT, M, ES Plantago lanceolata L. He Cosm Polygo- Rumex crispus L. He Cosm Plantag- naceae Plantago lagopus L. Th IT, M Rumix vesicarius L. Th S, M inaceae Primula- Plantago coronopus L. Th IT, M, S Anagallis arvensis L. Th IT, M, ES ceae Avena ludoviciana Durieu. Th IT, M Ceratocephalus falcatua (L.) Th IT, ES Aegilops triuncialis L. Th IT, M Pers. Agropyrom trichophorum He IT Ranun- Delphinium cyphoplectrum (Link) Richter Ge IT culaceae Boiss. Agropyrom intermedium He IT Ranunculus arvensis L. Th IT (Host) P- Beauv. Ranunculus asiaticus L. Ge IT, M Agropyrom tauri Boiss. & He IT Reseda- Reseda aucheri Boiss. subsp. Bal. Th IT ceae bracteata (Boiss.) Rech. F. Boissiera squarrosa Hochst. Th IT, M Rhamna- Rhamnus persica Boiss. & ex Steud Ph IT ceae Hohen. Bromus danthoniae Trin. Th Cosm Amygdalus orientalis Duh. Ph IT Bromus tomenteluss Boiss. He IT Rosa- Amygdalus scoparia Spach Ph IT Bromus scoparius L. Th IT, M, ES ceae Amygdalus lycioides Spach Ph IT Bromus tectorum L. Th Cosm Var. Lycioides Bromus sterrilis L. Th IT Crataegus azarolus L. Ph IT Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. Ge Cosm Rosa elymatica Boiss. & Ph IT Dactylis glomerata L. He IT, M, ES Hausskn. Eremopoa persica (Trin.) Cerasus microcarpa (C. Th IT, M, ES Rosa- Poaceae Roshev. ceae A. Mey.) Boiss. Subsp. Ph IT Festuca ovina L. He IT, M microcarpa Heteranthelium piliferum Sanguisorba minor Scop. Th IT (Banks & Soland.) Hochst. Subsp. Lasiocarpa (Boiss. & He IT, M, ES Hausskn) Hordeum glaucum Steud. Th IT, M Callipeltis cucularis (L.) Hordeum sponataneum C. Th IT, S Th IT Stev. Koch Rubia- ceae Galium setaceum L. Th IT Hordeum bulbosa L. Th IT Galium tricorne Stokes He IT, ES Hordeum violaceum Boiss. He M, ES Haplophyllum tuberculatum et Huet Rutaceae He IT (Forssk.) juss. Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf He IT, M, S Kickxia sieberi (Reichb.) He M Melica persica Kunth He IT, M Allan. Phalaris minor Retz. Th IT, M Scrophularia striata Boiss. He IT Poa bulbosa L. Ge IT, M, ES Verbascum sinuatum L. Var. He IT, ES, S Stipa capensis Thunb. Th IT, M, S Scrophu- sinuatum Stipa hohenackeriana Trin. lariaceae Verbascum assurense Bornm. He IT He IT & Rupr & Hand. –Mzt. Taeniatherum crinitum Verbascum kochiforme Boiss. Th IT, M He IT (Schreb.) & Hausskn. Veronica anagalis-aquatica L. Th Cosm

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1 2 3 4 The assessment of life forms based on the Raunkier Hyoscyamus orthocarpus He IT system (Raunkier 1934) showed that the most impor- Solana- Schonbeck – Temesy tant group was Hemicryptophyte. In the present study, ceae Hyoscyamus tenuicaulis He IT Hemicryptophyte constituted 43%, Therophyte – 38%, Schonbeck – Temesy Geophytes – 7%, Phanerophyte and Chamaephyte – 6% Daphne mucronata Royle Ph IT, ES of the life forms observed. The life-form spectrum of Daphne stapfii Bornm. & Thymela- Ph IT the plants investigated is presented in fig. 3. Keissler ceae Thymelaea mesopotamica (C. Th IT, ES jeffrey) B. Peterson Chamaephyte 6% Urtica- Parietaria judaica L. He IT ceae Zosimia absinthifolia Hoffm. He IT Hemicryptophyte Valerian- Valerianella vesicaria (L.) 44% Th IT, M Therophyte ceae Moench. 37% Verbena- Vitex pseudo-negundo Ph IT ceae (Hausskn.) Hand-Mzt. Zygo- Peganum harmala L. He Cosm Geophyte Phanerophyte phylla- 7% 6% ceae Tribulus terrestris L. He IT Fig. 3. Life-form spectrum of plants in Dehdez forest Ph – Phanerophyte, He – Hemicryptophyte, Th – Therophyte, Ge – Geophyte, Ch – Chamaephyte, IT – Irano-Turanian, M – Mediterranean, S – Sahara-Sindian, ES – Euro-Siberian, Geographical distribution analysis showed that the Cosm – Cosmopolite. most important chorotype was Irano-Turanian. The results obtained indicated that Irano-Turanian chorotype Asteraceae (33 species), Papilionaceae (32 spe- constituted 53.3%, Irano-Turanian, Mediterranean (IT, cies), Poaceae (29 species), Apiaceae (27 species) and M) – 11.6%, Irano-Turanian, Mediterranean and Euro- Lamiaceae (18 species) were the most important fami- pean-Siberian (IT, M, ES) – 9.6% of plant geographical lies. These families represented 57.9 % of all the species distribution. The abovementioned chorotypes constitut- and families observed. Frequency of plant species from ed 74.5% of all the species observed. The spectrum of the families identified is shown in fig. 2. geographical distribution is shown in fig. 4.

35 33 32 30 29 27 25

20 18 15 Number of Species 10 8 7 7 7 6 6 4 4 4 5 3 3 3 3 3 3 0

Poaceae Apiaceae Rosaceae Liliaceae Asteraceae Lamiaceae Cruciferae Malvaceae Rubiaceae Geraniaceae Dipsacaceae Hypericaeae Papilionaceae Boraginaceae Thymelaceae Ranunculaceae Convolvulaceae Plantaginaceae Caryophyllaceae Scrophulariaceae Family Fig. 2. Frequency plant families and species in Dehdez forest

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140 140 128 120 100 80 60 40 28

Number of species 23 20 12 12 15 5 5 2 8 2 0 IT S M IT, ES IT, M IT, S ES, M IT, ES, M IT, M, S IT, ES, S Cosm Chorotypes Fig. 4. Chorological types spectrum in flora in Dehdez forest

Discussion the region is accompanied by increasing occurrence of several plant families including Asteraceae, which is The results obtained allow for the conclusion that the supported by the results of Archibold (1995) and Vakili study area is very rich with reference to plant diversity. Shahrebabaki et al. (2001). The presence of plant spe- Among all plants, Hemicryptophyte (43%) are domi- cies such as Stachys lavandulifolia, Teucrium polium, nant and Therophyte (38%) are next in the order. Plant Teucrium orientale, Phlomis olivieri and Euphorbia sp. life forms indicate abilities of adaptation to environ- indicates negative changes in not protected portions of mental factors, and especially – climatic conditions. this area. According to Mobayen (1975, 1985, 1995) the frequency of Therophyte plants is a result of Mediterra- nean climate and the frequency of Hemicryptophyte Conclusion is attributable to cold and temperate climate. On the whole, the frequencies of Hemicryptophyte and Thero- The study area is very rich in terms of plant diversity. phyte among the plants of the area show the effects of Documenting habitat floristic composition is valuable the two types of climate: Mediterranean and cold tem- for ecological research continuation as well as manage- perate. Therophyte adapted to the rainfall shortage and ment and conservation of plants and animals. Resources dryness of the region, by enduring in the form of seed available for conservation of species and ecosystems during the vegetation season (Asri 2003). Hemicrypto- are in short supply relative to the needs. Targeting con- phyte adapted to conditions of the area by using differ- servation and management actions toward the species ent ways such as: reserving water, using ground water, and ecosystems requires clearly established priorities reducing water needs by losing leaves and diminishing such as studies of floristic composition. Thus, in this -re own vegetative growth. The dominance of Hemicryp- search, the identification of 245 plant species in Dehdez tophyte and Therophyte clearly indicates adaptation burned forest along with their chorology, family, spe- of these plants to area aridity. The geographical dis- cies and life form are of central importance for further tribution of plants reflects the climate conditions. Con- ecological investigation, conservation and management sidering the fact that 53.3% plant species in the area of wildlife refuge in Iran. are Irano-Turanian elements, there can be concluded that the area is Irano-Turanian (characterized by low rainfall and extended dry season). Astragalus diversity References with its 11 species identified in the study area which is mountainous, shows that Astragalus family has Akbarinia M., Zare H., Hosseini S.M., Ejtehadi H. adapted to mountainous conditions. The occurrence of 2004. Study on vegetation structure, floristic com- Asteraceae and Lamiaceae families with large species position and chorology of silver birch communities diversity is the result of environmental degradation in at Sangdeh, forest of Hyrcanian region. Pagouhesh the area investigated. It is believed that degradation of and Sazandegi, 64, 84–96.

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