Ararat: Nakhchivan & Eastern

A Tour for the Alpine Garden Society

A Greentours Trip Report

14th – 26th May 2013

Led by Ian Green & Başak Gardner

In 2013 we ran a tour that focused on the irises and other of Eastern Turkey and Nakhchivan. This overlaps with the proposed itinerary (though the dates are a little different) for the 2014 trip to Azerbaijan and so below I’ve kept the daily descriptions of the visit to Nakhchivan to give you a flavor of what you can expect.

There is no trip report available for the ‘mainland’ Azerbaijan part of the tour.

Day 4 May 17th Ani, Digor & the journey Nakhchivan

A longish journey in prospect today so we set off decently early at a little after eight. The clouds were low over the mountains and it was a little chilly but there were blue patches and the weather improved gradually throughout the day.

We headed east to the Armenian border reaching Ani after an hour and a half. Our schedule meant that we could only have an hour at this beautifully exposed site. The landscapes are huge – the great volcano in Armenia today was shrouded in cloud only the lower snow-streaked slopes visible and in all directions we could see for miles. Once the capital of the medieval Bagratuni Kingdom, the city was of great importance and junction of various trade routes and at the height of its powers was reputed to have 1001 churches! The remains of streets and houses are most evocative given the remarkable position of the site. Plantlife didn't include any bulbs but it did give us the chance to get to know some of the local 'weeds' such as Asperugo procumbens, the little henbane Hyoscyamus pusillus, two Noneas, one of them melanocarpa, brachycarpa, and the unusual crucifer Lepidium perfoliatum, a whose basal leaves bear as little resemblance to its stem leaves as a palm to a cabbage! Isabelline Wheatears were frequent and we saw Northern and Finsch's too. House Martins and Swifts as well as Crag Martins moved rapidly past, and Long- legged Buzzards soared in the sky. A Hoopoe called from the top of the Church of St Gregory of the Abughamrents and a Common Whitethroat flew for cover below it. A Black Redstart was in the stream.

We took a newly done up dirt road through to Digor cutting a huge chunk off our journey and allowing us to see more of the hardly populated and wild lands along the Armenian border. The scenery was always fascinating and often wildly beautiful. We stopped to photograph some striking peaks against a backdrop of Geranium tuberosum. Adonis aestivalis and Bellevalia sarmatica

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 1 were at this spot. Once we'd regained the main road we continued towards Iğdir. Some steppic fields yielded a large population of the impressive Gladiolus atroviolaceus but it was what was on the opposite side of the road that drew the plaudits. For here was a wonderful display of oncocyclus irises. The large white standards were scattered about the steppe (and in some of the fields too) like so many windblown tissues....The population was variable with the falls varying from pale violet-brown to a rich blackish-brown. A fabulous show of Iris iberica. The ranged from typical elegantissima to a number that appeared close to the transcaucasian Iris iberica subspecies iberica. We spent a happy half an hour photographing these splendid irises. Almost as good were the abundant Muscari caucasium (like grass...) and Bellevalia sarmatica.

Then it was on to Tuzluca for lunch, not having time to stop for such botanical finery as Amberboa moschata, Sophora alopecuroides and Typha minima. We stopped in the town centre by the dolmuş station and walked into a great little restaurant. Sparkling clean, equally efficient and with tasty food, the whole meal was done and dusted in half an hour and we were on the road again. Into Iğdir centre and we were just around ten minutes late meeting our Nakhchivani driver and guides. Their boss, Ali, was there to greet us and we were soon getting into a very plush new Mercedes Sprinter driven by the immaculately groomed Vaghef, our driver for the trip. The baggage was packed into another vehicle and we were off.

We headed off to the border. We'd been watching the magnificent peak of Ararat already for a hundred km or so at this stage, first from the west and now we were heading across the northern side where the mountain seemed impossibly big, for here the Aras River is only 600m or so above sea level and Ararat over 5100m, and it is pretty much straight up! No time to stop though. We were passing through some unusual (for Turkey) habitats here with areas of agriculture interspersed with salt steppe covered in shrubby Chenopodiaceae. This is a widespread habitat in where, in early spring, it is a great habitat for bulbs! There were flocks of Rose-coloured Starlings here and there, and Bee-eaters and Rollers were frequent along the wires. Several Blue- cheeked Bee-eaters were seen, this species having a wide gap in its Turkish distribution, the other population being down on the Syrian border.

We reached the border with Azerbaijan on the Aras River. And the border with Armenia. And the border with Iran! Well, actually the latter was a few kms away! Formalities took less than an hour. This is not a busy border checkpoint and clearly one that was not much used by tourists. We were surrounded on all sides by a remarkable bird-filled wetland with Pygmy Cormorants, Black- winged Stilts and various gulls and herons everywhere, but couldn't use our optics due to the rather large number of borders!

We drove off through the wetland and onto the main road to Nakhchivan. This was an extraordinary large smooth road with no traffic at all. The oil money flowing into Nakhchivan is being invested in the infrastructure now. The route followed the Aras Valley with mountains rising to the left and the twin peaks of Ararat looming over us in front of the lowering sun behind. The valley was green and richly productive in the main, but nearing Nakhchivan city we passed areas of arid steppe, the low hills on the left very barren looking. The city was a revelation. Wide boulevards passed a clean and well laid out city with a mix of old and very new buildings. The population of Nakhchivan enclave (it is not connected directly to Azerbaijan itself, surrounded by Armenia on three sides and Iran on the other) is a mere 400,000 with around seventy thousand in the city, so it is a region of wide open spaces, both inside the city and out. We reached the rather grand looking Grand Hotel and settled in later reconvening for our evening meal which was in a superb open-air restaurant.

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Day 5 May 18th Nakhchivan - Batabat

Breakfast was the usual fare served with very good tea. At nine we met Vaghef our driver and Hassan our local 'minder' and drove to a change office for a little familiarisation with the local currency, the Manat. Then it was northwards towards the hills. We drove along a main road that reaches the Armenian border, though that crossing, like all into Armenia, is very much closed. However the popularity of the beautiful countryside here with weekend picnickers from the city means that one is allowed much closer to the border than would normally be countenanced here. The road takes one through a few small villages lower down, but in the main is through open steppe country that soon becomes quite lush until eventually a forest belt is reached. This is beautiful and is protected as a substantial natural reserve which also covers the subalpine meadows above that.

Having managed to keep going through increasingly flowery steppe we eventually had to stop due to increased variety of plant and also the fabulous view over a reservoir dotted with islands and with snowy mountains behind. We soon realised that our main quarry for the morning, Iris lycotis, was flowering over the steppe on both sides of the road. This is a truly magnificent iris, the local botanists have even given the form 'magnifica' to the Nakhchivan populations. Cameras were soon out and busy with the huge flowers. Most were really dark, a kind of purplish black, though there were numbers of slightly paler ones where the purple violet tones were more pronounced. They were spread across the steppe, in little groups and singly, and many were still to come. Pat soon found us another Iris, but Iris atropatana was sadly already over, this year it looked well over, the seeds already developing. There were other bulbs too; Muscari caucasica, and little Gladiolus tenuis, still just about in bloom. Crested Larks, Black-headed Buntings and Marsh Warblers were the common birds. Chukar called and two Peregrine Falcons perched on a pylon. I thought they were at their nest, but when they were gone a Hooded Crow flew in and fed its young! Four Ruddy Shelduck flew over calling loudly, an evocative sound and a great sight. There were quite a few too. Most were Orange-banded Hairstreaks but there were also blues, and a Cardinal, as well as Wall Browns and a spotted-type fritillary. The steppe plants though – wow! There were three poppies – red Papaver arenarium, purple Roemeria hybrida, and the delicate little orange and yellow Glaucium elegans just a few centimetres high. There were wonderful patches of cerise Salvia hydrangea, some yellow Salvia ceratophylla, and the pale grey hairy foliage and pure pink flowers of Stachys inflata. Little Polygala hohenackeri was a nice find. There were Thesiums, Torilis, Zosima absinthifolia, Silene swertifolia, Silene chlorifolia, Silene dichotoma, Ziziphora tenuis, a Nepeta species, two Onosmas, Moltkia caerulea, and an abundance of pea species. Best among the latter were probably the two beautiful Onobrychis species. Onobrychis michauxii had pink and white flowers lined darker, and the other was tall with spectacular spires of gold – Onobrychis galegifolia. There were of course many Astragalus, one with large almost rounded leaflets and yellow flowers, another with dusky purple flowers and calyces covered in black hairs, but perhaps the finest were the tight hairy heads of Astragalus szovitsii.

We moved up the road stopping after a few kilometres to have a picnic by a spring. Here were tables under a tree and our support team soon arrived bringing with them a most superb picnic with cooked chicken, salads, fresh herbs in abundance, cheeses, olives all finished off with tea made in a samovar they bought along and chocolates. We explored the nearby gully which proved rather excellent for plants. Notable was the regional endemic Ornithogalum hajastanicum, the shrubby Hymenocrater bituminosus, and the simply stunning Astragalus finitimus with its huge Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 3 round heads of yellow flowers. Here we met our first Iris imbricata. There were some huge orobanches growing up the slope under umbellifers, and some fine shows of Aethionemas. An Adonis Blue posed well and there were Queen of Spain Fritillaries. Pietro photographed a lovely Turkish Fiery Copper. Down below the picnic site was a river with some wet areas lined with the tiny but exceedingly cute Typha minima.

We moved upslope and found ourselves a massive population of Iris imbricata and enjoyed quality time with this multi-headed yellow iris. Crag Martins coursed back and forth against the rocky slope where we also saw Eastern Rock Nuthatch and Red-fronted Serin. Ornithogalum was there in abundance and there was some nice Campanula stevenii. Further up we stopped in pretty much the only forest in Nakhchivan. This is dominated by the oak, Quercus macranthera, and the maple, Acer monspessulanum. We soon spotted orchids, initially mistaking a very robust Dactylorhiza flavescens for Orchis pallens. There were also a few purple Orchis pinetorum. Further into the forest we found a pond around which was a nice population of Pedicularis wilhelmsiana and lots of Cardamine amara in the wet areas. Barred Warblers and both Common Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats were in the trees along with small groups of mostly male Common Rosefinches. We found a small group of Bellevalia pycnantha too.

It was time to head downhill and back to the city. It had been an amazing flower packed day in Batabat. Back at the hotel we had a break before doing the plant checklists. Then to dinner again in the same restaurant. This time we were outside among the roses – the restaurant is designed so that each eating area is private with trees and roses surrounding it. The food was once again gorgeous and the beer and tea too!

Day 6 May 19th Nakhchivan - Batabat

This morning it was rather grey first thing though it had brightened up by the time we left the city at nine. We drove up the Batabat Valley stopping briefly to photograph first some Iris imbricata then some fine clumps of Onobrychis cornuta covered in mounds of purple flowers.

We passed yesterday's endpoint and within minutes were up into the subalpine zone, a beautiful landscape of meadows covered in flowers and dotted with small fruit trees with here and there small lakes and behind it all a ridge of high mountains still with long streaks of snow. Someone called out irises so we got out to check. Sure enough there were a number of Iris caucasica flowering on a roadside bluff, with a few Muscari sosnowskyi. There was abundant Bellevalia pycnantha/paradoxa in the wet areas by the road along with lots of Ranunculus grandiflorus and in a wet patch Primula auriculata. There was also the deep ruby Scrophularia zvartiana in flower. Red- backed Shrikes and Common Whitethroats were a frequent sight.

We arrived at the lake at the top of Batabat only for the dark clouds to beat us there. Thunder and lightning and rain ensued, hail eventually. We sat it out for a while but eventually decided to go and find somewhere to have our lunch. As ever our Nakhchivani team were on the ball and had called ahead to a restaurant in the forest below and arranged for us to eat our picnic there. They were very welcoming considering that they were not providing us with any food! We enjoyed the freshly cooked dolmas brought up from the city, and after the picnic had finished the weather improved so we headed back up to the higher areas.

The afternoon was spent exploring the crags and meadows above the lake. A superb place, with

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 4 beautiful scenery and abundant flowers. First up were irises, though these turned out to be Iris pseudocaucasica rather than Iris caucasica. There were very many of them and some fine clumps too. Moving across a hillside, Başak found a viper sitting in the grass. It was rather too cold to move much so we were able to get good close up photographs. Just past here Stewart had found Fritillaria kurdica. The slightly tessellated mahogany and green striped bells were a delight, and varied greatly. Moving along the base of the crags we found many, though the best clumps (one had fifty flowers in it!) were out of reach of most on the crags themselves. Muscari sosnowskyi was frequent amongst the Arabis on the rocks. Water Pipits were everywhere and there were Linnets and Rock Buntings too. Two Ruddy Shelduck flew in to the lake. Further upslope we found some nice deep purple Nonea polychroma and the simply stunning Corydalis persica. This had white or cream or pink-tinged or yellowish blooms each tipped dark and red. Stunning with their glaucous foliage too. Someone found the strange Muscari szovitsianum. I moved further up the hill and found an abundance of flowers. Fritillaria armena started to appear and later became common, in dryer areas growing with Pulsatilla albana armena and Valeriana leucophaea. In the damper areas where recently melted snow watered the soil there was abundant Gagea sulphurea, as well as lots of the Corydalis. Near actual snow I found Ranunculus kochii, Scilla armena and some fine Merendera raddeana. Overhead went several Buzzards and Başak spotted no less than four Golden Eagles. Two Twite flew off as I started back, another rain storm coming in.

We headed downhill after tea had been passed around the vehicle. We took a side road down in the valley and explored a gully up that. There were a few Iris imbricata (there had been a spectacular show just along the road) and some lovely Gladiolus tenuis. We found a bush of Berberis integerrimus and other plants included Ornithogalum gabrielinae. Red-fronted Serins were seen well and we watched Blue Rock Thrush and Lesser Whitethroat as a Black Vulture sailed over.

We finished the day again in the rain (this must be pretty unusual in Nakhchivan!) at a fish restaurant just a little downhill. A superb evening meal (again) with no less than four different fish each, each one served in a different style, and with the usual cheese and herb and bread starter and a pudding of honey, bread and a cream that was almost clotted.

Day 7 May 20th Eastern Nakhchivan - Arafsa & Bilav

This morning the weather looked a little better as we headed out of town. Today we were honoured with the presence of Professor Tariyel Talibov, Institute of Bioresources in Nakhchivan and also member of parliament in Nakhchivan, The significance of the latter we'd learn later in the day. We were exploring eastern Nakhchivan today. This means one gets to see Snake Mountain from all angles. This impressive monolith is very much the symbol of Nakhchivan and a most striking landform, rising abruptly from the lowland steppes and semi-deserts and reaching 2415m in altitude, most of it in one jump! The top has a distinct notch, apparently the result of impact with Noah's boat.

We passed close to the western side and stopped to take photographs. European Bee-eaters, Rollers, Black-headed Buntings and Lesser Grey Shrikes were abundant along the route. Başak and Pietro spotted a well-camouflaged female Little Bustard sitting quietly by the roadside. The next mountain along was less high but similarly precipitous and was home to a number of Griffon Vultures. Five soared over the top and we could see the places they sat on the cliff ledges.

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We continued up the valley passing through quiet pretty villages where the gardens were full or vegetables, fruit trees and walnuts, and then we stopped just as the snowy peaks in front of us seemed to be looming large. Our professor had taken us to a site he knew for oncocyclus irises. These were not immediately apparent so we wandered the slopes for a while. There were abundant aromatic labiates on the slope. Muscari caucasicum was here and there and there were beautiful clumps of Oxytropis karjaginii. Green Woodpeckers called from the village trees below as we searched, but it looked like we would draw a blank. Then the first irises were found. A small stand right on top of the hill. Beautiful dark irises, the black shot through with purple, the falls rather narrow with a velvety patch, this crossed by a pink chevron, the standards dark. This looked like Iris paradoxa (smelt like....tasted like...) but seemed not quite right. We found other plants many of them tiny and squat on the exposed hilltop. Tiny is of course a relative word when it comes to oncocyclus irises for they were still 8cm or so across. There was much discussion....were they hybrids?

An Imperial Eagle appeared above Başak and Kerry, an adult, giving great views. There were Linnets and Pied Wheatears too. As we descended we found Iris imbricata in flower. There were so many butterflies in the dry gully Pat and I walked down. Glanville Fritillaries in small groups, occasional Queen of Spain Fritillaries, Common Blues, some plebejus blues of one sort or another, and many Adonis Blues. An Inky Skipper stopped awhile and a Spialia skipper too, and we also saw Sooty Copper. An impressively large Hare fled up the hill.

Down at the minibus we found the professor had located his irises and these were really close to the road! We wandered up to find a decent population of the same iris as on the hilltop. Later checking of the pictures we had showed these to be Iris paradoxa var atrata a form of this variable iris found in nearby Armenia. There were also Ornithogalums, these seeming to be Ornithogalum navaschinii.

We moved up the road a bit looking for a picnic site. We spotted a nice old bridge and decided to make camp near it. It turned out to be an old Seljuk bridge, still with a complete though rather unsafe looking arch - Nakhchivan is the sort of place where you can just happen across such a thing, already six hundred years old and no signs for it – just there! As the picnic was unpacked (another superb one!) a male Levant Sparrowhawk came and sat on the wires. Two fine broomrapes here were Orobanche heildreichii and Orobanche carypophyllacaea. Down by the river there were red spikes of Dactylorhiza cataonica and a great patch of Astragalus natchitshevanicus. After lunch we passed through our village where one of the locals had replanted a fantastic bush of Rosa bicolor, an endangered native species, by their house. This superb rose had orange-red and yellow flowers and is simply stunning. Just down the road were bushes of the brilliant yellow Rosa rapinii. Rosa canina too! Lesser Grey Shrikes chased each other noisily here.

We drove towards the far eastern corner of Nakhchivan now stopping for more pictures of the landscapes. Başak spotted a Blue-cheeked Bee-eater en route. The previous year I'd found a population of oncocyclus iris in seed in this area but the advanced season meant that they had already seeded this year too. We searched a couple of localities for them. No luck with flowers though. Pied and Finsch's Wheatears were seen, Chukar too. There were some pretty Delphinium quercetorum and a great patch of the pink and white Lotus gebelia. We had been joined by some TV crews at this point. That's right, some! Three in fact. And interviews were conducted whilst we botanised, mostly with our eminent professor who in his capacity as MP had let the press know we were here. It was gratifying to know that our eulogising of the Nakhchivan flora would appear on all the local channels!

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Then it was back to town, and after a break we visited a local 'family' restaurant where we enjoyed the local form of köfte. This was a large meatball served in sauce with potatoes. Very tasty. Followed by Bakhlava and tea.

Day 8 May 21st Back to Turkey and around Ararat

We made a slightly earlier start this morning with a ten to eight departure from a sunny Nakhchivan. Our route to the border was punctuated by Blue-cheeked and more commonly European Bee-eaters, Rollers, Hoopoes and flocks of Rose-coloured Starlings. White Stork nests were everywhere. We stopped a couple of times for photos. Near the border a number of Black- winged Stilts sat on nests by the roadside.

The border formalities were just that, so rather painless, taking just an hour or so. We continued towards Iğdir, stopping to take photographs of Ararat at times. Both Big and Little Ararat (the latter is around 4000m!) stood proud and with hardly a cloud. The border wetlands and those beyond produced sightings of Cattle, Little and Great White Egrets, several Glossy Ibis, Slender- billed Gull and Montagu's Harrier. We also stopped to get a look at more Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters and also to photograph White Storks at the nest.

We met up with our Turkish drivers in Iğdir and transferred the baggage before all of us went to a restaurant for an albeit early lunch. It was only 12.30 Nakhchivan time but we were hungry so at ten-thirty Turkish time we ordered an impressive spread of salads, Ci Kofte and most of us had Iskender Kebab as the main dish, a delicious mixture of tomato, doner meat, pide bread and yoghurt. After a little shopping we were on our way. The road up to the Çilli Pass surprised us with a massive and colourful display of Papaver arenarium, with Ararat, or at least its lower slopes, in the background. Stewart took the opportunity to have a chat with some local shepherds herding their fat-tailed sheep. Isabelline Wheatears were common.

Up on the pass we spent a happy hour or two amongst a fine display of Iris iberica elegantissima. They were in fabulous condition. The tumbled lava hills here were a delight. Pedicularis condensata, Polygala anatolica (in several colour forms), Nonea pulla, Centaurea triumfetttii, and Thalictrum minus were the flowers of the steep grassy hillsides. There were also Ornithogalum schelkovnikovii, Tragopogon reticulatis and the larger Tragopogon albinervis to enjoy. Strauch’s Racerunners scurried for cover and there were a number of butterflies about. Later we drove across the flat plain stopping at a meadow where we could hear Quail and see the last remnants of Muscari coeleste, an unusual pale sky-blue grape hyacinth with ‘open’ flowers. A little further out of town we explored several spots where Iris iberica subspecies elegantissima was flowering beautifully. Black-headed Yellow Wagtails pottered about the steppe as we took photo after photo. Calandra Larks sang strongly above us and Marsh Harriers quartered the valley. A pair of White Storks were nesting on a building across the road.

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Systematic List Number 1 Plants

The majority of the taxonomic order and nomenclature has been taken from the Turkish Flora (edited by P H Davis) although the more recent treatment of the orchids in Die Orchideen der Turkei (C. A. J. Kreutz) has been preferred for that group. Grateful thanks in particular to Rodney Burton, Peter Sheasby and Adil Guner for much of the original identifications and to Mervyn Southam for providing us with so much useful information on the umbellifers. Non-woody dicot and monocot species are in flower unless otherwise stated.

Acanthaceae Acanthus dioscoridis

Aceraceae Acer hyrcanum Acer monspessulanum Batabat Valley Acer sempervirens lower parts of Batabat valley

Apiaceae Anthriscus cerefolium Anthriscus nemorosa Ani, Hill above Tugkoyu Village southeast of Tatvan. Damp meadows near Ahlat also in Nemrut Crater Astrodaucus orientalis Brunium microcarpum Scattered throughout Bunium paucifolium Noted around Dogubeyazit, the south side of Kurubas Pass, south of Van, and the environs of campsite 1km towards Gevas from Akdamar ferry Bupleurum kurdicum Halkis Mountain Ferula orientalis West side of lake Van, Karabel and Halkis Mountain Heracleum persicum Hizan Lagoecia cretica Laserpitium carduchorum Lecokia cretica Muradiye waterfall area, Halkis Mountain Malabaila dasyantha Noted in the Ahlat area and Tendurek, Cili Pass, Halkis Mountain Malabaila lasiocarpa Guzeldere Prangos c.f. corymbosa Scandix iberica Scattered throughout Scandix stellata Between Hosap and Guzeldere Pass. Çatak Road, Batabat Valley Torilis leptophylla Scattered throughout Zosima absinthifolia Kagizman and Batabat Valley, Van area

Aristolochiaceae Aristolochia bottae Hizan and Halkis Mountain Aristolochia paecilantha leaves only on the way to Hizan

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Asclepiadeceae Cynanchum acutum Vincetoxicum tmoleum Halkis Mountain Vincetoxicum fuscatum Scattered throughout

Asteraceae Achillea arabica (biebersteinii) Scattered in Nakhchivan and Dogubeyazit area Achillea filipendulina Achillea vermicularis Amberboa moschata The walls of the Aras Valley 16km west of Tuzluca on the Kars road Antenarria dioica Aster alpinus Bellis perennis widespread in meadows Carduus hamulosus Scattered in Nakhchivan Centaurea cheiranthifolia Hamamli Centaurea depressa Scattered throughout Centaurea sessilis Zernek steppe Centaurea triumfettii Scattered throughout, pale pink flowers Centaurea vanensis Slopes above and south of the Guzeldere Pass between Hosap and Baskale, Dogubayazit. Chardinia orientalis Arafsa, Van area on dry steppe Cirsium arvense Scattered in Nakhchivan Cirsium obvallatum scattered, not quiet in flower though Cnicus benedictus Scattered throughout Crupina vulgaris Scattered throughout Cousinia mscroptera Cousinia nabelekii Crupina vulgaris Scattered in Nakhchivan Gundelia tournefortii Arafsa and Bilav, Guzeldere Helichrysum arenarium Bilav Helichrysum armenum Koelpinia linearis scattered throughout, octopus like seedpods Logtia arvensis? Hizan and Halkis Mountain Notobasis syriaca Halkis Mountain Onopordum carduchorum Halkis Mountain Onopordum polycephalum Halkis Mountain Rhagadiolus angulosus Halkis Mountain Scorzonera cana Sarikamis, Crags and slopes south of the Sim-er Hotel, Dogubeyazit, and around Sim-er Hotel near Dogubeyazit; On the road to Çatak. Scorzonera phaeopappa Scattered in Turkey and Nakhcevan Senecio vernalis Scattered throughout Serratula erucifolia Sonchus oleraeus Scattered Trogopogon albinervus Cili Pass Tragopogon aureus Tragopogon coloratus Batabat Valley

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Tragopogon pseudolanata Tendurek Pass? Tragopogon pterocarpus Muradiye, Guzeldere Pass Trogopogon reticulatus Cili Pass Tussilago farfara Guzeldere, Halkis Mountain

Berberidaceae Berberis integerrima Arafsa, has very big leaves Berberis vulgaris ssp. nigra Arafsa

Betulaceae Betula litwinovii Sarikamis Populus tremula Sarikamis

Boraginaceae Alkanna orientalis Common in Cili Pass and Van area with yellow flowers Anchusa arvensis Agri, Muradiye and Guzeldere Anchusa aucheri Hizan, Halkis Mountain Anchusa azurea scattered on the roadsides Anchusa leptophylla Muradiye Arnebia pulchra Tendurek Pass Asperugo procumbens here and there Buglossoides arvensis Scattered throughout, small white flowers Caccinia macranthera steppe in Zernek Valley Cerinthe minor Scattered throughout Cynoglossum montanum Agri Echium italicum Heterocaryum szovitsianum Cili Pass Lappula barbata Scattered in steppe areas Lappula squarrosa Cili Pass, minute flowers Lappula szovitsianum Batabat valley Moltkia caerulea Batabat and Arafsa, navy blue flowered borage Myosotis alpestris scattered in the alpine zone Myostis spp Nonea caspica Arafsa, divaricately branched from the base with dark purple flowers Nonea macrantha Nonea polychroma Scattered in Nakchchivan and Igdir area, dark purple flowers with yellow corolla tube Nonea pulla Sarikamis and Dogubeyazit area Nonea versicolor Hamamli, flowers light purple and dirty pink Onosma tenuiflora Paracaryum laxiflorum Batabat Valley, in steppe Rindera albida South side of Kurubas Pass Rindera lanata Scattered in the apine zone Rochelia disperma 2km west of Taslicay, east of Agri, the crags and slopes south of the Sim-er Hotel, Dogubeyazit and the east side of the Cilli Pass, Ararat. Bitlis Circuit, Guzeldere

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Solenanthus circinnatus Upper parts of Batabat Valley, Muradiye Waterfall area, Karabel Solenanthis stamineus Upper parts of Batabat Valley, Muradiye Waterfall area, inside Nemrut Dagi Volcano crater, and east side of the Guzeldere Pass between Hosap and Baskale Symphytum asperum Seen from the bus in Nakhchivan villages Symphytum kurdicum Halkis mountain

Campanulaceae Campanula aucheri Campanula propinqua Campanula stevenii Scattered in Batabat Valley among the Iris imbricata Legousia falcata Halkis Mountain Legousia speculum-veneris between Tatvan and Hizan, Halkis Mountain Michauxia laevigata

Capparaceae Capparis spinosa here and there on the roadsides

Cleome ornithopodioides

Caprifoliaceae Lonicera caucasicum Halkis Mountain Lonicera nummularifolia Batabat Valley Rhus coraria Halkis Mountain

Caryophyllaceae Arenaria cucubaloides Guzeldere Pass Arenaria dianthoides Kars, Tendurek pass Arenaria gypsophiloides Sarikamis area Cerastium dichotomum Hizan Cerastium purpurascens Hamamli,Tendurek and Guzeldere Passes, very big white flowers Dianthus calocephalus Dianthus crinitus Dianthus orientalis Gypsophila elegans Common in lower parts of Batabat Valley Gypsophila nabelekii Tendurek and Guzeldere Passes Herniaria glabra Scattered Herniaria incana Seen more than the upper in Batabat Valley Holosteum umbellatum Batabat Valley Minuartia juniperina Tendurek Pass Minuartia sclerantha very common in steppe areas Paronychia kurdica Seen here and there Saponaria pumilio Saponaria viscosa Hizan, Halkis Mountain Scheranthus uncinatus Batabat Valley

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Silene alba Muradiye Silene araratica seen at Batabat Valley Silene capitellata Muradiye, Nemrut Silene chlorifolia very big flowered, gloucuse?? Silene seen at Batabat Valley Silene conica Dogubeyazit, Silene conoidea Scattered, pink flowered, sticky silene Silene cappadocica sticky silene that resembles S. Spergulifolia seen at Cili Pass Silene dianthoides Silene dichotoma Dichotomously branched silene seen at Batabat Valley Silene montbretiana Silene otites Delicate silene with stamens excluded in Batabat steppe Silene pungens Silene spergulifolia very common in steppe areas, clump forming plant with reddish calyx Silene subconica Batabat Valley, Halkis Mountain Silene swertifolia another very big cream flowered Silene with green foliage Silene vulgaris seen on the roadsides Stelleria perfoliatum Batabat Valley Telephium orientale Batabat Valley Vaccaria hispanica Velezia rigida Halkis Mountain

Cistaceae Fumana procumbens Batabat Valley Batabat Valley Helianthemum salicifolium Batabat Valley

Convolvulaceae Convolvulus arvensis Scattered throughout Convolvulus calvertii Convolvulus cantabrica

Crassulaceae Rosularia radiciflora Halkis Mountain Rosularia sempervivum Scattered Sempervivum cf. armenum Umbilicus erectus Halkis Mountain

Cruciferae Aethionema arabicum common in the steppe areas Aethionema heterocarpum Hizan and Halkis Mountain Aethionema trinervium Tendurek Pass Alliaria petiolata Batabat Valley Anchonium elichrysifolium Guzeldere Pass Arabidopsis thaliana Dogubeyazit area Arabis caucasica Batabat Valley, Nemrut Crater Arabis montbretiana Muradiye, Hizan Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 12

Arabis nova Muradiye, Cilli Gecidi on Ararat; above Ishak Paºa Palace. Barbarea minor Scattered Barbarea plantagineum Bornmuellera cappadocica Muradiye Capsella bursa-pastoris common in lower areas Capsella rubella Cili Pass Cardaria draba common in lower areas Cardamine amara Batabat Valley Cardamine uliginosa Seen in wet areas Conringia perfoliata Dogubeyazit area Conringia planisiliquosa Conringia orientalis common Crambe orientalis common Descurainia sophia common in lower areas Draba bruniifolia frequent in higher areas Draba cappadocica High ridge south of Guzeldere Pass. Rodney also spotted an Draba nemarosa Ani? Draba polytricha Tendurek and Guzeldere Passes Draba rosularis Tendurek Pass Fibigia suffruticosa South of Kurubas Pass – south of Van, Hamamli Hesperis pulmonarioides Isatis steveniana Isatis tinctoria Cili Pass Lepidium pefoliatim Ani, Dogubeyazit area Lepidium vesicarium Batabat Valley, Muradiye Malcolmia africana Scattered Malcolmia chia Ani Matthiola anchoniifolia (sulphuro) Matthiola longipetala Batabat Valley, Zernek Valley Matthiola odorantissima Nasturtium officinale Batabat Valley Neslia apiculata Dogubeyazit area Neslia paniculata Zernek Valley Rorippa sylvestris Samerana glastifolia Arafsa Schimperia arabica Sisymbrium irio Sisymbrium loeselii Sterigmostemum incanum Scattered Thlaspi arvense Cili Pass Thlaspi kurdicum Thlaspi perfoliatum Guzeldere Pass Torularia spp

Cupressaceae Juniperus sabina Hamamli

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Dipsacaceae Scabiosa rotata Scattered throughout

Elaeagnaceae Elaeagnus angustifolius Scattered

Equicetaceae Equisetum arvense Sarikamis Equisetum fluviatile Equisetum ramosissimum Batabat Valley

Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia armena Dogubeyazit area, Batabat Valley Euphorbia heteradena Scattered throughout Euphorbia macrocarpa Inside Nemrut Dagi Volcano crater Euphorbia marschalliana Euphorbia seguieriana Nominate – tall, fine Euphorbia szovitsii Batabat Valley, very dwarf on steppe

Fabaceae Astragalus aduncus Arafra and scattered in Van area, tall palnt with smallish purple flwrs and very fine leaflets Astragalus angustiflorus Common in Van area, acaulous, big-yellow flowered Astragalus calycinus Astragalus campylosema Agri, Marly slopes at east end of Zernek Reservoir on the Hosap road. Between Ercek Lake and Ozalp. Scapose Astragalus caraganae Between Muradiye and Van Astragalus cornutus Astragalus eriocephalus Guzeldere Pass Astragalus fabaceus Astragalus bademliensis in Nakhchivan Astragalus finitimus Huge yellow flower heads in Batabat Valley (a subsp. of Astragalus macrocephalus in Turkey) Astragalus fragrans Common dirty white dwarf fragrant species Astragalus globosus Astragalus halicacabus Muradiye and Catak, with red inflated fruitpods Astragalus lagurus Batabat Valley, Guzeldere and zernek, very few leaflets Astragalus latifolius Zernek Valley Astragalus mesites Batabat Valley Astragalus natchitschevanicus Arafsa, similar to A. caraganae Astragalus onobrychis Batabat Valley Astragalus pinetorum Batabat Valley Astragalus szovitsii Batabat Valley and Arafsa Astragalus tigridius Colutea cilicica Hizan Coronilla varia Van Glycyrrhiza glabra Cili Pass elegans Dogubeyazit

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Hedysarum vanense Guzeldere Pass Hedysarum varium Lathyrus aphaca Halkis Mountain Lathyrus brachypterus Lathyrus laxiflorus Lathyrus miniatus Batabat Valley Lathyrus rotundifolius Halkis Mountain Lathyrus setifolius Scattered Lathyrus sphaericus Bilav Lotus caucasicus Arafsa Dogubeyazit area Lotus gebelia Bilav, pink flowered Lotus Medicago coronata Hizan Medicago disciformis Halkis Mountain Medicago lupulina Arafsa Medicago orbicularis Halkis Mountain Medicago truncatula Halkis Mountain Medicago radiata Hizan Medicago rigidula Hizan Medicago sativa Van area Medicago sativa ssp. falcata Sarikamis Onobrychis cornuta Common in higher parts of Batabat Valley and in Van area Onobrychis crista-gallii Onobrychis galegifolia Batabat Valley and Arafsa, bright yellow flowers Onobrychis michauxii Batabat Valley and Arafsa Onobrychis radiata Zernek Valley Onobrychis sulphureus vanensis Oxytropis karjaginii Bilav Oxytropis persica Pisum sativum Halkis Mountain Robinia pseudacacia Scattered Securigera (Coronilla) orientalis Muradiye Sophora alopecuroides Common in Nakhchevan and some in Van Trifolium angustifolius Halkis Mountain Trifolium arvense Halkis Mountain Trifolium campestre Halkis Mountain Trifolium canescens Trifolium clypeatum Trifolium hirtum Halkis Mountain Trifolium nigrescens Trifolium pauciflorum Halkis Mountain Trifolium physodes Scattered Trifolium pilulare Trifolium pratense Batabat Valley and Hizan Trifolium purpurescens Halkis Mountain Trifolium repens Scattered Trifolium resupinatum Halkis Mountain Trifolium speciosum Halkis Mountain Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 15

Trifolium stellatum Scattered Trifolium tomentosum Halkis Mountain Vicia canescens Muradiye Halkis Mountain, Hizan Vicia lutea Batabat Valley Vicia michauxii Batabat Valley Vicia peregrina Cili Pass Vicia sativa Scattered Vicia trunculata Batabat Valley and Hizan Vicia villosa Batabat Valley

Fagaceae Quercus brantii Halkis Mountain Quercus libani Halkis Mountain Quercus macranthera Batabat Valley Quercus petraea subsp pinnatiloba Hizan Quercus pubescens Nemrut Crater

Ficaceae Ficus carica rupestris Scattered

Fumariaceae Corydalis erdelii Hamamli? Corydalis nariniana Karabel Corydalis persica Batabat Valley Corydalis oppositifolia Tendurek, Guzeldere, Karabel Passes Fumaria vaillantii Batabat Valley

Gentianaceae Gentiana olivieri Halkis Mountain Gentiana verna Tendurek and Guzeldere Pass

Geraniaceae Biebersteinia multiflida Tendurek and Guzeldere Passes Erodium absinthoides ssp. armena Cili Pass, Ararat and also Aras Valley walls 16km past Tuzluca, north-facing slope of Tendurek Pass Erodium ciconium Batabat Valley Erodium cicutarium Dogubeyazit, Hizan and Halkis Mountain Erodium oxyrrhynchum Batabat Valley Geranium divaricatum Geranium purpureum Halkis Mountain Geranium pusillum Tuzluca Geranium rotundifolium Tuzluca, Halkis Mountain Geranium sylvaticum Geranium tuberosum very common everywhere

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Globulariaceae Globularia trichosantha Tuzluca

Guttiferae Hypericum lydium Scattered in steppe areas Hypericum scabrum Batabat Valley, Arafra and common in Van area

Juglandaceae Juglans regia Hizan Mountain

Lamiacae Acinos arvensis Dogubeyazit and Halkis Mountain Acinos rotundifolius Bilav Ajuga chamaepitys very common in several subspecies Ajuga genevensis Batabat Valley Ajuga orientalis very common Eremostachys laciniata common Eremostachys moluccelloides a few on Zernek Valley Hymenocrater bituminosus Batabat Valley, Arafsa and Zernek Valley Hymenocrater calycinus Lallemantia iberica Batabat Valley, Bilav and Zernek Valley Lallemantia peltata Arafsa and Zernek Valley Lamium album Sarikamis Lamium amplexicaule Common Marrubium persicum Molucella laevis Nepeta congesta Guzeldere Pass Nepeta fissa Nakhchivan Nepeta heliotropifolia Agri, Dogubeyazit Nepeta italica Halkis Mountain Nepeta transcaucasica Dogubeyazit, Tendurek Pass Salvia aethiopis Tendurek Pass Salvia brachyantha Tuzluca, Calyx violet. Corolla only 12mm Salvia ceratophylla Batabat Valley and Arafsa Saliva frigida Zernek Valley Salvia hydrangea Nakhchivan Salvia kronenburgii in bud in Zernek Valley, Calyx wide open, glabrous and whitish green; dry hills near Hosap Salvia limbata common on roadsides, Corolla white with pale yellow lower lip. 25mm. Salvia multicaulis Common in high steppe Salvia nemorosa Dogubeyazit area and Zernek Valley Salvia pachystachys Salvia rosifolia Hizan Salvia staminea Sarikamis, Cili Pass Salvia suffruticosa Salvia trichoclada Hizan, Halkis Mountain

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Salvia verticillata Scutellaria orientalis common Stachys atherocalyx Nakhchivan, Muradiye and Hizan Stachys inflata Nakhchivan Stachys lavandulifolia Widespread in steppe Teucrium orientale Ziziphora capitata scattered in steppe Ziziphora taurica Hizan Ziziphora tenuior Bilav

Linaceae Linum austriacum Common in Dogubeyazit area Linum trinervium Linum mucronatum Zernek Valley Linum obtusatum

Malvaceae Alcea kurdica Hizan Malva neglecta Scattered in steppe

Orobanchaceae Orobanche alba Arafsa Orobanche anatolica Agri, Hizan, Halkis Mountain Orobanche caryophyllacea Arafsa Orobanche heldreichii Bilav Phelypaea tournefortii Muradiye

Papaveraceae

Glaucium corniculatum Arafsa, Dogubeyazit Glaucium elegans Batabat Valley Hypecoum pendulum Zernek Valley Papaver arenarium Batabat Valley and Cili Pass Papaver bracteatum Papaver lateritium Papaver persicum Batabat Valley, Zernek Valley Papaver rhoeas Sarikamis Roemeria hybrida Batabat Valley Roemeria refracta Batabat Valley, Catak Road

Pinaceae Pinus sylvestris Kars area

Plantaginaceae Plantago lanceolata Widespread on meadows and disturbed habitats. Guzeldere Pass

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Plumbaginaceae Acantholimon karelinii

Polygalaceae Polygala alpestris Tendurek Pass Polygala anatolica Kagizman, Cili Pass, 11km south of Kucuksu, south of Tatvan; between Van-Muradiye-Dogubayazit; between Tatvan and Hizan. Polygala hohenachreriana Batabat Valley, Arafsa Polygala papillionacea Polygala stocksiana Kagizman Polygala vulgaris Muradiye

Polygonaceae Atraphaxis spinosa Batabat Valley Polygonum bistorta upper parts of Batabat Valley Rheum Zernek Valley Rumex scutatus

Primulaceae Androsace albana Tendurek Pass Androsace intermedia Hamamli Androsace maxima Batabat Valley, Zernek Valley Androsace villosa Hamamli, Tendurek and Guzeldere Passws Primula auriculata Soguksu meadows south of Tendurek Pass, the east side of the Guzeldere Pass between Hosap and Baskale, and a little east of Asaginarlica below the Karabet Pass Primula elatior pallasii Hamamli and Tendurek Pass Primula veris macrocalyx Batabat Valley

Pteridophyta Asplenium trichomanes Ceterach officinarum Batabat Valley Cheilanthes persica in the crater of Nemrut. Along the Çatak Road Cystopteris fragilis Brittle Bladder Fern. Scattered throughout

Ranunculaceae Adonis aestivalis Between Van and Muradiye; On the road to Çatak. Fields around Dogubeyazit Adonis eriocalycina Slopes by campsite near Akdamar Ferry and also near Ayamis Castle; On the road to Çatak. Ercek Golu area. Adonis wolgensis Noted on the ridge above the Ishak Paºa and also as common on the lower north-facing slopes of the Tendurek Pass near Somkaya village Anemone narcissiflora .Hamamli, A little to the north of Tendurek Pass. Güzeldere Pass Caltha polypetala Kagizman, Sarikamis area Ceratocephalus falcatus Common especially in north

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Ceratocepahlus testiculatus Less common than following species – e.g. Arin Golu Clematis orientalis Consolida orientalis Quite common in fallow or disturbed ground in the Aras Valley. Also near Edremit and at Van Kalesi Consolida persica Delphinium quercetorum Bilav Pulsatilla albana ssp. armena On the crater rim of Nemrut Dagi and at Tendürek Pass. Ranunculus arvensis Scattered throughout in fields and waysides Ranunculus aucheri Guzeldere and Karbel Passes Ranunculus brachylobus Batabat Valley, Tendürek Pass. In the crater of Nemrut; between Hosap and Guzeldere Pass. Ranunculus bulbilliferus Ranunculus caucasicus Bilav and Cili Pass? Ranunculus constantinopolitanus Wet meadows along the Van circular south side. Ranunculus cuneatus First noted around the Sim-er and as quite common in dry areas north of Lake Van Ranunculus dissectus huetii On the road to Karabet Pass and between Van and Bendimahi Ranunculus dissectus ssp. napelliformis Hamamli Ranunculus diversifolius The tall large-leaved buttercup in the woodlands south of Lake Van 2009 Ranunculus fenzlii Another tall large-leaved buttercup in the woodlands south of Lake Van! Ranunculus grandiflorus Both sides of Tendurek Pass in saturated ground 2009 Ranunculus illyricus Nakhchivan, The Cilli Pass west of Ararat; in the crater of Nemrut. Ranunculus isthmicus north of Van, fruits like a clown's hat 2009 Ranunculus kochii By snowmelt at many localities – like a squat celandine! 2009 Ranunculus kotschyi Wet meadows east of Agri and Nemrut Dagi Crater – locally common 2009 Ranunculus oreophilus Ranunculus polyanthemos Batabat Valley Ranunculus polyrhizos On the ridgetop south of the Guzeldere Pass. Near top of Tendurek Pass Ranunculus repens Bilav, Scattered in wet areas around Van. Ranunculus sceleratus Zernek Valley Ranunculus sericeus Wet meadows near Bendimahi and along south shore of Lake Van Ranunculus trichophyllus Batabat Valley Thalictrum flavum Thalictrum isopyroides Thalictrum minus Batabat Valley, shaley slopes between Ercek & Ozalp, above Ishak Paºa Palace & many other places Trollius ranunculinus A few plants on the Guzeldere Pass east of Hosap.

Resedaceae Reseda lutea Reseda microcarpa Nakhchivan

Rhamnaceae pallasii Batabat Valley

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Rosaceae Amygdalus fenzliana Amygdalus orientalis Between Muradiye and Van Cotoneaster nummularia Hamamli Fragaria viridis Geum rivale Batabat Valley Potentilla bifurca Tendurek and Guzeldere Passes Prunus dulcis Prunus incana (Cerasus angustifolia) Prunus (Cerasus) microcarpus Rosa bicolor Bilav, reddish orange with yellow centered flowers Rosa canina Scattered Rosa haemisphaerica Hizan Rosa rapinii Bilav, yellow flowers Sanguisorba minor Arafsa Spirea hypericifolia Batabat Valley

Rubiaceae Asperula arvensis Dogubeyazit area and Nakhchivan Asperula glomerata Batabat Valley and Zernek Valley Asperula pontica Callipeltis cucullaria Batabat Valley Cruciata taurica Widespread

Santalaceae Thesium billardieri Batabat Valley

Saxifragaceae Saxifraga sibirica Tendurek Pass

Scrophulariaceae Bungea trifida Scattered on steppe. Crags and slopes south of the Sim-er Hotel, Dogubeyazit, and 10km east of Ercek Golu and then shales 6km south along minor road. Zernek. Meteor Euphrasia pectinata Scattered Lagotis stolonifera 2km west of Taslicay, east of Agri, Dogubeyazit; On the road to Çatak. Linaria armeniaca The walls of the Aras Valley 16km west of Tuzluca on the Kars road. Zernek. Linaria chalepensis Oak woodland and grazed valley west of Dogruyol near Bitlis; Between Hosap and Guzeldere Pass. Cilli Pass, Ararat. Muradiye. Linaria simplex Batabat Valley, East side of the Cilli Pass, Ararat Linaria zangezura Melampyrum sp Parentucellia latifolia Pedicularis armena Hamamli, Batabat Valley Pedicularis comosa Widespread and common – both wet meadow and dry rocky slope forms Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 21

Pedicularis condensata Cili Pass Pedicularis wilhelmsiana Batabat Valley Rhyncocorys orientalis Scrophularia chrysantha Hamamli, Batabat Valley Scrophularia zvartiana Batabat Valley Verbascum phoeniceum The walls of the Aras Valley 16km west of Tuzluca on the Kars road. Cilli Pass Verbascum saccatum Batabat Valley Veronica anagallis-aquatica Aras Valley near Calpala west of Igdir; On the road to Çatak. Veronica gentianoides North-facing slopes on the Tendurek Pass 2009 Veronica orientalis Scattered throughout Veronica polita Batabat Valley

Solanaceae Hyoscyamus niger Dogubeyazit and Muradiye Waterfall; in the crater of Nemrut; between Ercek Lake and Ozalp. Hyoscyamus pusillus West side of lava plain north of Dogubeyazit, and the salt mine at Tuzluca

Tamaricaceae Myricaria germanica Batabat Valley

Ulmaceae Celtis glabrata Batabat Valley Zalkova carpinifolia Arafsa

Urticaceae Urtica dioica Scattered

Violaceae Viola sieheana Hamamli, Tendurek Pass. Viola tricolor Tendurek Pass

Zygophyllaceae Peganum harmala Widespead on steppe, Nakhchivan; Between Hosap and Guzeldere Pass. Zygophyllum fabago Nakhchivan, Hosap and Van Kalesi

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Monocots Amaryllidaceae Ixiolirion tataricum Subspecies montanum. Widespread in steppe

Araceae Arum elongatum

Iridaceae Gladiolus atroviolaceous Kars and Van area Gladiolus kotschyanus Muradiye Waterfall area and around Ayamis Castle. Also several places south and east of Lake Van Gladiolus tenuis Nakhchivan Gladiolus szovitzii Iris atropatana in seed n Nakhchivan Iris aucheri west side of Karabel Pass Iris barnumae 10km east of Ercek Golu and then shales 6km south along minor road. On the road to Ercis on dry hillsides, c. 30 km from Van, 1730 m altitude. East of Ozalp, particularly in the military area. Iris caucasica Hamamli, Batabat Valley, Tendürek Pass and inside Nemrut Dagi Volcano crater; On the road to Karabet Pass. Iris gatesii Halkis Mountain Iris iberica Subspecies elegantissima. 10km west of Dogubeyazit on Agri road. A*lso below the crags and on the slopes south of the Sim- er Hotel, Dogubeyazit, as well as around the hotel itself. Also on the east side of the Cilli Pass, Ararat, and in the Muradiye Waterfall area. The population along the Tuzluca road has plants that looked intermediate between Iris iberica elegantissima and the nominate form found further north Iris imbricata Widespread in Nakhchivan Iris lycotis Batabat Valley Iris paradoxa choschab Forma choschab. South side of Kurubas Pass, south of Van, the approach to the Guzeldere Pass, and the road between Zernek and Lake Van. Also noted along the roadsides along the Zernek Reservoir. Also on the road to Çatak

Iris paradoxa atrata Gorgeous dark irises near Arafsa, Nakhchivan Iris persica in seed Iris pseudocaucasica Guzeldere Pass Iris sari Steppe and fields 16km south of road 975 on the Catak road A large colony of mixed colours on the Catak Road had several plants intermediate (hybrids?) between this species and Iris paradoxa? Iris sari x paradoxa See previous species Iris urumiensis steppe near Albayrak though not in flower on this trip

Liliaceae Allium akaka Rugged hills above the Ishak Paşa Palace by Dogubeyazit, also the south side of Kurubas Pass, south of Van and 2km or so south of the Kurubas Pass south of Van and at Ayamis Castle. Allium derderianum Batabat Valley

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Allium flavum Hizan Allium pseudoflavum Arafsa Bellevalia forniculata Sarikamis Bellevalia longistyla Generally quite common in the Van area – e.g. Kuskunkiran Pass on the south Van circular and the eastern approach to the Karabet Pass Bellevalia paradoxa Hamamli, North-facing slopes near snowline on the Tendurek Pass, the east side of the Guzeldere Pass between Hosap and Baskale, and the eastern approach to the Karabet Pass, Batabat Valley Bellevalia pycnantha Sarikamis, Batabat Valley, Guzeldere Pass Bellevalia rixii Slopes above and south of the Guzeldere Pass between Hosap and Baskale Bellevalia sarmatica Kagizman? Colchicum triphyllum Kagizman, Hamamli Eremurus spectabilis Scattered at lower levels to the south and east of Lake Van Fritillaria armena Hamamli, Batabat Valley Fritillaria assyriaca Inside Nemrut Dagi Volcano crater, Tendurek Fritillaria caucasica Tendurek Pass Fritillaria crassifolia ssp. kurdica Batabat Valley Fritillaria imperialis in seed in Halkis Mountain Fritillaria michailovskyi Near Sarıkamış Fritillaria minima Karabel Pass Fritillaria minuta Karabel Pass Fritillaria minuta x assyriaca Inside Nemrut Dagi Volcano crater Fritillaria pinardii Tendurek Pass, Karabel Pass Gagea bulbifera Rugged hills above the Ishak Paşa Palace by Dogubeyazit, by the Hosap Fortress, and on the eastern approach to the Karabet Pass; in the crater of Nemrut. Gagea chanae Hamamli Gagea chlorantha Tendurek Pass Gagea confusa Batabat Valley, Lip of Nemrut Dagi Volcano crater. Karabet Pass. Also by lava fields at Tendurek Pass Gagea fistulosa Widespread and common near snowmelt everywhere Gagea gageoides Eastern approach to the Karabet Pass. First gorge along the Catak Road Gagea helenae The eastern approach to the Karabet Pass; Between Hosap and Guzeldere Pass. Gagea luteoides in the crater of Nemrut; Tendurek, Guzeldere, Karabet Pass Gagea sulphurea Batabat Valley Gagea taurica in the crater of Nemrut and on Tendurek Pass. Also on the Karabet Pass Gagea uliginosa Karabet Pass Gagea villosa Dogubeyazit Merendera kurdica The eastern approach to the Karabet Pass Merendera raddeana Batabat Valley Merendera sobolifera Merendera trigyna North-facing slopes near snowline on the Tendurek Pass, and the slopes above and south of the Guzeldere Pass between Hosap and Baskale. The plants from the Tendurek Pass fit the form ‘raddeana’ with wide perianth segments and broad leaves. Muscari armeniacum Locally common throughout

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Muscari aucheri Hamamli Muscari caucasicum Widespread – much commoner than previous species Muscari coeleste In very damp meadows just north of Dogubeyazit – one of the ‘open-flowered’ Bellevalia-like species Muscari comosum Scattered Muscari sosnowskyi Batabat Valley Muscari szovitsianum Batabat Valley Ornithogalum gabrielinae Batabat Valley Ornithogalum hajastanicum Batabat Valley Ornithogalum montanum common in Nakhchivan Ornithogalum narbonense Halkis Mountain Ornithogalum navaschanii Bilav Ornithogalum oligophyllum Scattered throughout Ornithogalum orthophyllum Guzeldere and Karabel? Ornithogalum platyphyllum Tendurek Pass? Ornithogalum shelkovnikovii Dogubeyazit Ornithogalum sorgerae probably this species in Hizan, Halkis Mountain Ornithogalum transcaucasica Batabat Valley Polygonatum glaberrinum Puschkinia ‘karabet’ Karabel Pass Puschkinia scilloides North-facing slopes on the Tendurek Pass, the east side of the Guzeldere Pass between Hosap and Baskale, and the eastern approach to the Karabet Pass – locally very abundant at all these sites Scilla sibirica armena Kagizman, Hamamli Tulipa armena armena Karabel Pass Tulipa koyuncii Guzeldere Pass Tulipa humilis Guzeldere and Karabel Tulipa julia Hamamli, Tendurek Pass. The yellow and red striped forms seen north of Kağızman have in the past been called Tulipa kagizmanica but currently reside under this species! Tulipa sintenesii Catak

Orchidaceae Comperia comperiana Between Karabel and Hizan Dactylorhiza cataonica Arafsa Dactylorhiza flavescens Batabat Valley and Nemrut crater Dactylorhiza incarnata Between Muradiye and Van Dactylorhiza osmanica Between Muradiye and Van Dactylorhiza umbrosa Guzeldere and Karabel? Ophrys phrygia between Karabel and Hizan, Halkis Mountain Ophrys straussii between Karabel and Hizan Orchis coriophora Cili Pass, Hizan road Orchis fragrans Orchis pinetorum Batabat valley and Nemrut Crater Orchis pseudolaxiflora between Muradiye and Van Orchis tridentata between Karabel and Hizan Serapias feldweggiana Heard tell that some saw them from the plane on Trabzon Airport!

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Typhaceae Typha minima Batabat Valley

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Systematic List Number 2 Birds

Only 2012 records included. The and order of the following list largely follows Voous (1977, List of Recent Holarctic Bird Species). An indication of frequency of sightings is given by the number of days out of 13 a species was seen on – thus 4/11 means a species was noted on four days during the holiday. The arrival day in Istanbul is not included.

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Dörümeç Rivermouth Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Dörümeç Rivermouth Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Istanbul Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmaeus wetland on Nakhchivan border Dalmatian Pelican Pelicanus crispus a dead one by Zernek Baraji Common Bittern Botaurus stellaris heard at the Dörümeç Rivermouth Night Heron Nyctocorax nycticorax wetland on Nakhchivan border and the Dörümeç Rivermouth Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides 1 at the Dörümeç Rivermouth Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis wetland on Nakhchivan border Little Egret Egretta garzetta wetland on Nakhchivan border and the Dörümeç Rivermouth Great White Egret Casmerodius alba wetland on Nakhchivan border and the Dörümeç Rivermouth Grey Heron Ardea cinerea wetland on Nakhchivan border Purple Heron Ardea purpurea a number of localities. 4/11 White Stork Ciconia ciconia widespread. 6/11 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus wetland on Nakhchivan border Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea locally common. 6/11 Common Teal Anas crecca Dörümeç Rivermouth Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Dörümeç Rivermouth Pochard Aythya ferina Dörümeç Rivermouth Black Kite Milvus migrans local throughout. 6/11 Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus 1 on the Karabet Pass Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus singles twice in Nakhchivan. 2/11 Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus rather local. 3/11 Black Vulture Aegypius monachus 1 Batabat Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus scattered. 3/11 Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus a scatter of records. 3/11 Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes single males near Arafsa and Halkıs Dağı Common Buzzard Buteo buteo uncommon. 2/11 Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus widespread. 11/11 Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina several in the Sarıkamış area. 2/11 Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca a total of 4 in Nakhchivan. 4/11 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 1 adult on the Karabet Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus 1 on the Batabat Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni scattered. 3/11 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus widespread in low numbers. 11/11 Hobby Falco subbuteo scattered. 4/11 Chukar Alectoris chukar widespread. 7/11 Coot Fulica atra scattered. 3/11 Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax 4 near Snake Mountain, Nakhchivan Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus widespread in wetlands. 3/11 Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta 2 Dörümeç Rivermouth Spur-winged Plover Hoplopterus spinosus 2 at the Dörümeç Rivermouth

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Lapwing Vanellus vanellus locally common. 6/11 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 2 Dörümeç Rivermouth Common Redshank Tringa totanus widespread in wetlands. 4/11 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Sarıkamış & Dörümeç Rivermouth. 2/11 Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus uncommon. 2/11 Slender-billed Gull Larus genei 1 at the border crossing Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans Trabzon Armenian Gull Larus (argentatus) armeniacus widespread. 6/11 Common Tern Sterna hirundo Agri area Black Tern Chlidonias niger 2 between Ağrı and Kağızman Rock Dove Columba livia widespread – some wild birds too. 11/11 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus widespread. 8/11 Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis Dıyarbakır Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto widespread. 11/11 Cuckoo Cuculus canorus widespread. 7/11 Little Owl Athene noctua widespread. 5/11 Scops Owl Otus scops heard Kağızman Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus 1 Kağızman Common Swift Apus apus widespread. 11/11 Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops superciliosus between Nakhchivan and Iğdir in both directions. 2/11 European Bee-eater Merops apiaster widespread. 9/11 Roller Coracias garrulus widespread. 10/11 Hoopoe Upupa epops widespread. 10/11 Green Woodpecker Picus viridis heard in Sarıkamış area and Nakhchivan Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major 2 Sarıkamış Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopus syriacus scattered. 2/11 Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra widespread. 9/11 Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata higher altitudes than previous species. 5/11 Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla widespread. 6/11 Crested Lark Galerida cristata widespread. 10/11 Skylark Alauda arvensis widespread. 8/11 Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris widespread above 2000m. 5/11 Sand Martin Riparia riparia common at various wetlands. 3/11 Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris widespread. 8/11 Swallow Hirundo rustica widespread. 10/11 Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica Halkıs Dağı Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris scattered. 4/11 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis Sarıkamış Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta locally common at high altitude. 6/11 Black-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava feldegg widespread. 8/11 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea scattered. 4/11 White Wagtail Motacilla alba widespread. 11/11 Dipper Cinclus cinclus Sarıkamış Radde’s Accentor Prunella ocularis common on the eastern approach to the Karabet Pass – and also noted on the Güzeldere Pass. 2/11 Rufous Bush Robin Cercotrichas galactotes Çilli Pass Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos Heard frequently in some areas Bluethroat Luscinia svecica the fabulous magna race on the Güzeldere Pass White-throated Robin Irania gutturalis frequent in Nakhchivan. Also on the Çilli Pass. 3/11 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros widespread. 7/11 Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus Sarıkamış Whinchat Saxicola rubetra scattered. 3/11 Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 28

Stonechat Saxicola torquata only noted in Nakhchivan. 2/11 Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellinus widespread. 9/11 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe widespread. 12/11 Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka quite common in Nakhchivan. 3/11 Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica widespread. 9/11 Finsch’s Wheatear Oenanthe finschii Nakhchivan & Doğubeyazıt. 2/11 Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis scattered throughout. 7/11 Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius Bilav Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Sarıkamış Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti heard at a number of localities Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon Dörümeç Rivermouth & near Bendimahi. 2/11 Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris noted in the garden of the Sim-er Motel, Doğubeyazıt Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus Dörümeç Rivermouth Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus Dörümeç Rivermouth & near Bendimahi. 2/11 Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida scattered. 2/11 Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria 1 Batabat Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca common in Nakhchivan, scattered elsewhere. 5/11 Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis scattered. 4/11 Garden Warbler Sylvia borin abundant in the garden of the Sim-er Motel, Doğubeyazıt Mountain Chiffchaff Phylloscopus sindianus scattered. 2/11 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata several in the garden of the Sim-er Motel, Doğubeyazıt Coal Tit Parus ater Sarıkamış Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus Dörümeç Rivermouth Blue Tit Parus caeruleus scattered. 2/11 Great Tit Parus major widely scattered. 4/11 Western Rock Nuthatch Sitta neumayer scattered. 2/11 Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus Bilav Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio widespread. 8/11 Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor widespread. 7/11 Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator Arafsa and Sim-er Motel. 2/11 Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus Halkıs Dağı Jay Garrulus glandarius scattered. 4/11 Magpie Pica pica widespread. 11/11 Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax gracilis common on the Karabet Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Karabet Jackdaw Corvus monedula widespread. 8/11 Rook Corvus frugilegus locally common. 8/11 Hooded Crow Corvus (corone) cornix widespread. 11/11 Raven Corvus corax scattered. 3/11 Starling Sturnus vulgaris widespread. 11/11 Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus widespread. 8/11 House Sparrow Passer domesticus widespread, near habitation. 11/11 Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia widespread. 9/11 Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis locally common by snow. 5/11 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Sarıkamış and Arafsa. 2/11 Red-fronted Serin Serinus pusillus Arafsa & Tendurek. 2/11 Greenfinch Carduelis chloris scattered. 3/11 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis widespread. 8/11 Linnet Caduelis cannabina widespread. 11/11 Twite Carduelis flavirostris locally common in areas above 2000m. 4/11 Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 29

Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus scattered. 4/11 Rock Bunting Emberiza cia widespread. 9/11 Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana widespread. 10/11 Grey-necked Bunting Emberiza buchanani Bilav and Doğubeyazıt. 2/11 Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala widespread. 9/11 Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra widespread. 11/11

Your leaders made a visit to some dry hills in the vicinicty of Mazdağı the morning the group left and found the following bird species there – a good site!

Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus White-throated Robin Irania gutturalis Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius Upcher’s Warbler Hippolais languida Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus orientalis Sombre Tit Parus lugubris Eastern Rock Nuthatch Sitta tephronata Western Rock Nuthatch Sitta neumayer Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolus Pale Rock Sparrow Petronia brachydactyla Yellow-throated Sparrow Petronia zanthocollis Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia Cinereous Bunting Emberiza cineracea

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Systematic List Number 3 Butterflies

The taxonomic nomenclature and the systematic order have been taken from Baytaş’s Butterflies of Turkey (2007).

Papilionidae Papilio machaon Swallowtail Karabet Zerynthia deyrollei Eastern Steppe Festoon scattered throughout

Pieridae Pieris brassicae Large White widespread Aporia crataegi Black-veined White scattered Artogeia rapae Small White scattered throughout Anthocharis cardamines Orange-tip scattered Anthocharis gruneri Grüner’s Orange-tip Karabet Pontia callidice Peak White Karabet Colias chlorocoma Christoph’s Clouded Yellow ?probably this species on the Karabet Colias aurorina Greek Clouded Yellow Karabet Colias crocea Clouded Yellow widespread Gonepteryx rhamni Brimstone Nakhchivan

Lycaenidae Satyrium ilicis Ilex Hairstreak Halkıs Dağı Satyrium ledereri Orange-banded Hairstreak Nakhchivan paulae Pfeiffer’s found above the Ishak Paşa Palace Callophrys rubi Green Hairstreak scattered Alpine Green Hairstreak possibly seen in the Van area Tomares romanovi Romanoff’s Vernal Copper stunning . Nakhchivan Lycaena ochimus Turkish Fiery Copper Nakhchivan Lycaena phlaeas Small Copper Nakhchivan Lycaena thersamon Lesser Fiery Copper Nakhchivan Lycaena tityrus Sooty Copper Nakhchivan Cupido osiris Osiris Blue Nakhchivan Glaucopsyche alexis Green-underside Blue widespread Turanana endymion Odd-spot Blue noted along the Çatak Road bavius Bavius Blue Nakhchivan Plebeius eurypilus Eastern Brown Blue Nakhchivan Aricia agestis Brown Argus scattered throughout Polyommatus bellargus Adonis Blue scattered Polyommatus coelestinus Pontic Blue Nakhchivan Polyommatus fatima Fatima’s Blue ?probably this species in Nakhchivan Polyommatus icarus Common Blue scattered Polyommatus thersites Chapman’s Blue Nakhchivan

Nymphalidae Cynthia cardui Painted Lady widespread Pandoriana pandora Cardinal Nakhchivan Argynnis niobe Niobe Fritillary along the Çatak Road Issoria lathonia Queen of Spain Fritillary widespread Melitaea cinxia Glanville Fritillary scattered Melitaea phoebe Knapweed Fritillary in Van area Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 31

Melitaea didyma Spotted Fritillary or possibly Melitaea interrupta? Nakhchivan Melitaea trivia Lesser Spotted Fritillary Halkıs Dağı

Satyridae Protoerebia afra Dalmatian Ringlet Nemrüt Dağı Coenonympha pamphilus Small Heath scattered Lasiommata maera Large Wall Brown Nakhchivan

Hesperiidae Pyrgus melotis Aegean Skipper Nakhchivan Spialia phlomidis Persian Skipper Nakhchivan Erynnis marloyi Inky Skipper Nakhchivan

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