Check List 10(3): 516–523, 2014 © 2014 Check List and Authors Chec List ISSN 1809-127X (available at www.checklist.org.br) Journal of lists and distribution

Angiosperms, Kuhdasht gypsum areas, Lorestan, pecies S

* of

ists Mohammad Mehdi Dehshiri and Mehri Jozipoor L [email protected] Islamic Azad University, College of Science, Department of Biology, Borujerd Branch, Borujerd, Iran. * Corresponding author. E-mail: Abstract:

There is a lack of information on flora of gypsophilous in gypsum habitat in Lorestan province. In this paper, we report a species list of the gypsum flora of Kuhdasht, Iran. The study took place between 2009 and 2010. species were identified and their chorology and life form determined through laboratory examinations and using reference generabooks. Weare recorded Gypsophila about L. and 1,000 Astragalus specimens belonging to 39 families, 137 genera, and 190 taxa. An overall of 14 taxa (7.36%) are endemic to Iran. (29 taxa), (24 taxa), and (19 taxa) were the richest taxa. The two largest forms. L., with six and five species, respectively. Irano-Turanian elements were the most dominant chorotypes (48.43%). Also, therophytes (51.58%) and hemicryptophytes (30.53%) were the most abundant life

DOI: 10.15560/10.3.516

Introduction Iran. Results of this study can also be useful for rangeland management and conservation.

Gypsophilous plants are one of the most specific Materials and Methods Thexerophilous removal plants. of gypsum They layersare usually prevents rare andvegetation endangered from Study site species. Gypsum affects plant growth and development. The Lorestan province is in the Irano-Turanian presumably decreases moisture stress during droughts of phytogeographic region in western Iran. It has hot and earlyincreasing summer, in density due either (Pueyo to decreased and Alados water 2007). competition Gypsum dry summers, wet and cold winters. The Kuhdasht region because of low densities or inherent characteristics of the is in western Lorestan. The studied area covers about

Areas with gypsum cover about 9.816 million gypsum soil (Meyer 1986). 3962.8 ha in southwestern Kuhdasht (47°21′ and 47°30′ E; 33°22′ and 33°25′ N; Figure 1). The area has an arid 4. 2H2 Iran. The studied area has a rough footed topography and surfaceha of Iran, in arid which areas represents with about 16% of country area. and cold climate (Sabeti 1969) that is common in western Gypsum (CaSO O) is broadly scattered et on al. the soil sandy clay, silty clay or clay; pH is about 7.2–8.2; Electrical where gypsum resources lessare thanone of400 the mm customary mean annual and its altitude ranges from 1,500 to-1 1,800 m. Soil texture is rainfall (Eftekhari and Assadi 2001; Eftekhari 2002), % conductivity was 0.78–3.1 ds m ; lime is 5-38.6%; soil rich minerals of (FAO 1990). Gypsiferous soils are etfertility al. is low; gypsum is 0.5–63.4%; nitrogen is highly those with at least 5 of gypsum (Soil Survey Staff 1999). limited, whereas potassium is nearly sufficient (Dehshiri Studies of flora in gypsum soils are scarce. Johnston Data 2011).collection This(1941) pattern first has reported been seen that in vascular several plantsarid and are semi-arid rare in Plant specimens were collected from areas where gypsum soil in the Chihuahuan Desert of northern Mexico. gypsum is dense and clearly seen on the surface. We selective forces for the evolution of gypsophile endemics collected specimens of vascular plants in the study area areas of the world (Parsons 1976). Nevertheless, the were dried by means of standard herbarium methods. have not been clearly identified (Powell and Turner during growth periods between 2009 andFlora 2010. Iranica They the1977). Lorestan province, for its ecological and weather Flora of Iran (Assadi et al. 1988- Floristic surveys are particularly important in Specimens were identified by using the protecting endangered plants and planning a sustainable (Rechinger 1965–2010), conditions. Additionally, floristic lists are a first step for Tutin2010; et Ghahreman al. 1975-2006), and additional guides (Boissier 1867–1888; Komarov and Shishkin 1934–1960; use of, for example, medicinal plants. Severalet al. studies 1964–1980; Davis 1965–1988; Zohary 1966– have beenet conducted al. on the flora of non-gypsum areas in 1986; Townsend and Guest 1966–1985; Ghahreman Kuhdasht,been conducted Lorestan in gypsum province, areas Iran in (Azadbakht Iran, such as Eftekhari 2007; 1990–1994; Maassoumi 1986–2005; Mozaffarian 2008). Dehshiri 2011). Some previous studies have also Threatened statuses are proposed for endemic taxa et al. following Jalili and Jamzad (1999), and Ghahreman and and Assadi (2001) in Semnan province, and Eftekhari Attar (1999). Life forms followed the Raunkiaer’s life form (2002) in Khorasan province. Here, we identified specifications (Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg 1974; Asri Gypsophilous plants in Kuhdasht, Lorestan province, 2003). Phytogeographical regions were also determined 516 Dehshiri and Jozipoor | Angiosperms, Kuhdasht gypsum areas, Iran

Assadi et al. Asteraceae species have great ecological tolerance by using several reference books (Rechinger 1965–2010; 2005; Barber 2008; Akpulat and Celik 2005). 1988–2010;et al. Akhani 2005; Davis 1965–1988; Komarov and Shishkin 1934–1960; Townsend and Guest and break up their easily (Akpulat and Celik 2005; 1966–1985; Tutin 1964–1980; Zohary 1966–86; Abd El-Ghani and Abd El-Khalik 2006). It is the second Zohary 1973; Takhtajan 1986). Specimens are deposited large family in the flora of Iran (Ghahreman and Attar at the Central Herbarium of Islamic Azad University, 1999), and also the largest and mostCentaurea widespread and family inof ResultsBorujerd andBranch. Discussion floweringgypsum soils plants contributed in the world to this (Good pattern. 1974). Additionally, Floristic richness and taxonomic diversity the extensive occurrence of

et al. Poaceae is third largest family in the flora of Iran About 250 plant species have been recorded in gypsumet al. (Ghahreman andet al. Attar 1999). SpeciesHordeum of this was family the areas in Iran (e.g., Rechinger 1965–2010; Assadi genustolerate with soils highest with 40% occurrence. of gypsum This (Eftekhari provides and evidence Assadi are1988-2010; either absent Eftekhari or not and given Assadi in 2001; detail. Eftekhari We collected that2001; Eftekhari 2002). are dominant In addition, groups in gypsum 2002). However, information on habitats of some plants areas. about 1,000 angiosperm plant specimens in the study area, comprising 190 taxa, belonging to 137 genera of 39 Fabaceae ranks as the third most speciose family in beenfamilies reported (Tables yet 1–2). for Of Semnan these, 31and were Khorasan Monocotyledons provinces calciphilousour study and and is grows the largest easily in family gypsum in theplaces flora (Eftekhari of Iran and 159 taxa were Dicotyledons. Of allet taxa, al. 165 have not (Ghahreman and Attar 1999). Species of this family are The largest nine families are Asteraceae 29, Poaceae of Astragalus, , Onobrychis, and Trigonella (Eftekhari and Assadi 2001; Eftekhari 2002). andcontributed Assadi 2001). to representation In addition, of the the widespread family. presence is the fourth most species rich family in 24, Fabaceae 19, Lamiaceae 14, 12, nine9, Caryophyllaceae families. These 9,families are also the 7, and largest families 6 (Table 1). Approximately 67% of the taxa belong to these our study and in the flora of Iran (Ghahreman and etAttar al. 1999). Species of thisSalvia family, Phlomis are calciphobic, and Stachys and were excrete the in the Iran and Irano-Turanian floras (Ghahreman and mostcalcium common (Eftekhari ones of and this Assadi, family. 2001; Eftekhari Attar 1999), which explains their higher representation. 2002). The genera Conversely, species from Asteraceae, Poaceae, and found that Liliaceae was the fourth most speciose Fabaceae are the main bulk of alien plants in Iran, and also A previous study in (Akpulat and Celik 2005) in agro-ecosystems of adjacent countries, such as Saudi foundArabia byand previous Kuwait (Abd studies El-Ghani (e.g., andHoagland El-Sawaf and 2004; Buthod Abd thefamily commonness (25 taxa). Noof otherAllium study and hasIris recordedspecies in such gypsum high El-Ghani and Abd El-Khalik 2006). This result was also areasspecies may richness be the formain this reason family. for They that. hypothesized Previous studies that recorded only three Liliaceae species (Allium bungei, Asparagus breslerianus, and Eremorus luteus

Liliaceae species (3 species of Allium ) in gypsumet al.areas in Iran (Eftekhari and Assadi 2001). We found five of Allium ), while Azadbakht review (2007) shows has reportedthat 82 species six Liliaceae of Allium species (2 species ) in the adjacent non-gypsum area. Our literature exist in gypsum study.areas in Iran. This is one of the largest in the flora of Iran, which could explain its high representation inet oural.

Eftekhari and Assadi (2001) and Eftekhari (2002) found that Chenopodiaceae is the most abundant andfamily spreading (16 and in 13 gypsum taxa, respectively). soils. We also They found suggested two that Chenopodiaceae are successful in establishing et al. ChenopodiaceaeAstragalus species, which disagrees with Eftekhari and Assadi (2001) and Eftekhari (2002). has about 2,500 species in the world and is newone of habitats the largest for membersgenera of floweringof the genus. plants. Therefore, It is common these areasin steppe contains areas, by sincefar the excessive greatest number destruction of Astragalus provides

species (Akpulat and Celik 2005). AstragalusThe estimated species number (A. citrinusof species, A. offridae this, genusA. semnanensis for Iran is, A. about iranicus 800, A.(Maassoumi podolobus, Figure 1. Location of the studied area (▬ 1986–2005).A. kavirensis, A. There verus, and are A. eight reuterianus

) in Iran and Lorestan province. ) in gypsum areas517 Dehshiri and Jozipoor | Angiosperms, Kuhdasht gypsum areas, Iran

Table 1.

Taxa list in the studied area. IT: Irano-Turanian; M: Mediterranean; ES: Euro-Siberian; SS: Saharo-Sindian; Pl: polyregional; Cosm: Cosmopolitan; 1: Endemic; TAXA2: Lower risk; 3: Vulnerable; Th: Therophyte; Hem: Hemicryptophyte; Ge: Geophyte;LIFE FORM Ch: Chamaephyte; CHROTYPE Ph: Phanerophyte. VOUCHER NO. Magnoliophyta Magnoliopsida Amaranthaceae Amaranthus blitoides S. Watson var. halophilus Aell.1,2 Th IT Aristolochiaceae 2524 Aristolochia bottae Jaub. & Spach Hem IT Boraginaceae 2547 Anchusa italica Hem Labill. subsp. strigosa Hem 2399 Retz IT-M-ES 2355 decumbens Th IT-SS IT-M Onosma bulbotrichum Hem IT (Vent.) Coss. & Karl subsp. 2390 Onosma albo-roseum IT DC. 2385 Onosma trachytrichum Boiss. Hem IT 2366 Fisch. & C. A. Mey. Ge 2370 Paracaryum rugulosum Hem IT-SS 2377 Capparidaceae (DC.) Boiss. Capparis spinosa L. Caryophyllaceae Ch IT-M-SS 2566 Buffonia oliveriana Th IT Gypsophila bicolor Hem IT 2349 Ser. in DC. 2310 Gypsophila elymaitica 1,2 Hem IT (Freyn & Sint.) Grossh. Gypsophila linearifolia Th IT 2333 Mozaff. 2345 Gypsophila obconica Barkoudah Th IT 2347 (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Boiss. Gypsophila pallida Stapf var. pallida Hem IT 2326 Gypsophila pilosa Huds. Th IT Silene conoidea L. Th Pl 2339 2330 Vaccaria grandiflora Th IT 2336 Chenopodiaceae (Fisch. & DC.) Jaub. & Spach Noaea mucronata Hem Salsola nitraria Pall. Th IT-SS (Forssk.) Aschers. et Schweinf. IT-M 2599 Cistaceae 2587 Helianthemum salicifolium Th 2623 Asteraceae (L.) Miller IT-M-SS Achillea wilhelmsii Hem IT Anthemis cotula L. Th IT-ES-SS C. Koch 2007 Atractylis cancellata L. Th 2014 Carduus arabicus Th IT-SS IT-M 2025 Carthamus oxyacantha Th IT Jacq. ex Murray 2017 bruguierana Th IT M. B. 2020 Centaurea koeieana Bornm. Hem IT (DC.) Hand.-Mzt. 2036 Centaurea solstitialis L. subsp. solstitialis Th IT 2049 Centaurea virgata Lam. subsp. squarossa Hem IT 2040 orientalis Th IT (Willd.) Gugler 2024 Crepis kotschyana Th IT (L.) O. Kuntze 2047 Crepis sancta Th IT (Boiss.) Boiss. 2030 Crepis foetida L. subsp. foetida Th (L.) Babocok 2022 Crupina crupinastrum Th IT-M-ES 2010 Cymbolaena griffithii Th IT (Moris) Vis. IT-M 2016 Echinops viscidulus Hem IT (A. Gray) Wagenitz 2021 Filago vulgaris Lam. Th IT-ES Mozaff. 2003 tournefortii L. Hem IT 2045 Koelpinia chrysoglochis Rech. f. Th IT-SS 2029 Onopordon leptolepis Hem IT 2038 Outreya carduiformis Jaub. & Spach Hem IT DC. 2043 Pentanema divaricatum Th IT-SS 2031 Picris strigosa kurdica Lack Hem IT Cass. 2001 Postia bombycina Boiss. & Hausskn. 1,2 Hem SS M. B. subsp. 2013 Postia puberula Boiss. & Haussk. 1,2 Hem IT-SS 2018 Scariola orientalis Hem IT 2034 Scorzonera luristanica Rech. f. Hem IT (Boiss.) Sojak 2019 2028 518 Dehshiri and Jozipoor | Angiosperms, Kuhdasht gypsum areas, Iran

Table 1. Continued.

TAXA LIFE FORM CHROTYPE VOUCHER NO. Tanacetum polycephalum polycephalum Hem IT leptaurea L. subsp. mianensis 1,2 Th IT Schultz-Bip. subsp. 2042 Convolvulaceae (Boiss.) Rech. f. 2048 Convolvulus commutatus Boiss. IT Convolvulus dorycnium L. Hem IT 2637 Ch 2645 Convolvulus reticulatus Hem IT 2649 Brassicaceae Choisy in DC. Allysum desertorum Stapf var. desertorum Th IT Biscutella didyma L. Th 2210 Clypeola jonthlaspi L. Th 2217 IT-M 2220 Diplotaxis harra Th IT-M Eruca sativa Th Pl (Forssk.) Boiss. IT-M-SS 2230 Erucaria hispanica Th 2249 Miller 2240 Isatis raphanifolia Boiss. 1,2 Th IT 2223 (L.) Druce IT-M-SS africana Th 2246 Matthiola longipetala Th (L.) R. Br. IT-M-SS Sinapis arvensis L. Th Pl 2219 (Vent.) DC. IT-M-SS 2215 Thlaspi perfoliatum L. Th 2238 Torularia torulosa Th IT-SS 2244 IT-M-ES Dipsacaceae (Desf.) O.E. Schulz Cephalaria Boiss. Th IT 2671 Pterocephalus plumosus Th Scabiosa olivieri Th IT 2669 (L.) Coult. IT-M 2665 Scabiosa persica Boiss. Th IT Coult Scabiosa sicula L. Th IT 2655 Euphorbiaceae 2658 Andrachne telephioides L. Hem 2686 Chrozophora tinctoria Th 2699 IT-M-SS Euphorbia craspedia Boiss. 1,2 Hem IT 2697 (L.) A. Juss. IT-M Euphorbia helioscopia L. Th Pl 2677 Euphorbia macroclada Boiss. Hem IT 2687 Euphorbia falcata L. Th 2688 IT-M Quercus brantii Lindl. var. persica 1,2 Ph IT Geraniaceae (Jaub. & Spach) Zohary 2705 Erodium cicutarium Th 2729 Geranium rotundifolium L. Th 2748 (L.) L’Her. ex Aiton IT-M-ES Hyericaceae IT-M-ES Hypericum helianthemoides Hem IT 2773 Lamiaceae (Spach) Boiss. Phlomis bruguieri Hem IT 2199 Phlomis polioxantha Rech. f. Hem IT Desf. Phlomis olivieri Benth. Hem IT 2157 compressa Hem IT 2173 2190 Salvia macrosiphon Boiss. Hem IT 2179 Vent. Salvia palaestina Benth. Hem 2162 Salvia reuterana Boiss. Hem IT 2172 IT-M Scutellaria pinnatifida A. Hamilt. subsp. pinnatifida IT Stachys benthamiana Boiss. Hem IT 2193 Ch 2152 Stachys inflata Benth. Hem IT 2163 Stachys pilifera 1,2 Hem IT 2178 Teucrium orientale L. Hem IT 2166 Benth. in DC. Teucrium polium L. 2187 capitata L. subsp. orientalis Th 2164 Ch IT-M Linaceae Samuelsson ex Rech. f. IT-M Linum mucronatum Bertol. subsp. mucronatum IT 2797 Linum strictum L. var. spicatum Pers. Th 2786 Ch Malvaceae IT-M Alcea kurdica Hem IT 2812

(Schlesht.) Alef

519 Dehshiri and Jozipoor | Angiosperms, Kuhdasht gypsum areas, Iran

Table 1. Continued.

TAXA LIFE FORM CHROTYPE VOUCHER NO. Malva parviflora L. Th 2824 Malva sylvestris L. var. sylvestris Hem IT-M-SS Malva verticillata L. Th IT-SS IT-M-ES 2820 Mimosaceae 2815 Prosopis farcta 2846 Moraceae (Banks & Soland.) Macbr. Ch IT-M-SS Ficus carica L. subsp. rupestris Ph 2872 Orobanchaceae (Hausskn. ex Boiss.) Browincz IT-M Orobanche ramosa L. Th Pl 2891 Chelidonium majus L. Th Pl 2923 Glaucium fimberilligerum Boiss. Th IT 2914 Glaucium grandiflorum Boiss. & Huet. Hem IT Papaver bracteatum Lindl. Hem IT 2910 Fabaceae 2906 Alhagi persarum Boiss. & Buhse Hem IT Astragalus crispocarpus 2 Th IT 2110 Astragalus ecbatanus Bunge 1,2 IT Nabelek 2102 Astragalus eriosphaerus Boiss. IT Ch 2125 Astragalus fasciculifolius Boiss. subsp. fasciculifolius 1,2 Ph IT Ch 2107 Astragalus kerkukiensis Bornm. Th IT 2135 Glycyrrhiza glabra L.2 Hem 2132 2145 Medicago orbicularis 2 Th Pl 2139 IT-M Medicago polymorpha L. Th 2128 (L.) Bartalini Medicago radiata L. Th 2146 Cosm Medicago rigidula 2 Th 2138 IT-M Onobrychis caput-galli Th 2111 (L.) All. IT-M-ES Onobrychis crista-galli Th 2119 (L.) Lam. IT-M Onobrychis ptolemaica Hem IT-SS (L.) Lam. IT-M-SS Trifolium campestre Schreb. Th 2122 (Del.) DC. 2130 Trigonella elliptica Boiss. 1,2 IT 2149 IT-M-ES Trigonella monantha Th IT Ch Trigonella persica Boiss. 1,2 Th IT 2129 C.A. Mey. 2108 Vicia peregrina L. var. peregrina Th 2142 Plantaginaceae IT-M Plantago lanceolata L. Hem IT-ES-SS 2947 Polygalaceae Polygala hehenackeriana Hem IT Polygonaceae Fisch. & C.A. Mey. 2965 Pteropyrum noeanum 3 Ph IT-SS 2979 Primulaceae Boiss. & Meisner Anagalis arvensis L. Th 2231 IT-M-ES aestivalis L. Th Anemone biflora IT IT-M-ES 2046 Delphinium cyphoplectrum Boiss. Hem IT-SS DC. Ge 2067 Thalictrum isopyroides Hem IT 2089 Rosaceae C.A. Mey. 2094 Amygdalus arabica Ph IT Amygdalus lycioides Spach var. lycioides Ph IT Olivier 2401 meyeri Ph IT-ES 2417 2410 Crataegus monogyna Jacq. Ph IT-ES 2412 A. Pojark. Rosa canina Boiss. Ph IT 2432 Sanguisorba minor Scop. Hem IT 2422 Gaillonia bruguieri 1,2 Hem IT Galium setaceum L. Th 2977 A. Rich. ex DC. 2557 Callipeltis cucullaria Th IT-SS IT-M (L.) Stev. 2435

520 Dehshiri and Jozipoor | Angiosperms, Kuhdasht gypsum areas, Iran

Table 1. Continued.

TAXA LIFE FORM CHROTYPE VOUCHER NO. Rutaceae Haplophyllum tuberculatum Hem IT-SS 2298 Scrophulariaceae (Forssk.) Juss. Albraunia fugax Th IT 2174 Scrophularia striata Boiss. Hem IT (Boiss. & Nöe) Speta Tamaricaceae 2195 Tamarix tetragyna Ehrenb. var. meyeri Ph IT-SS 2476 Thymelaeaceae (Boiss.) Boiss. Thymelaea passerina Th IT-ES Apiaceae (L.) Cosson & Germ. 2596 Anisosciadium orientale Th IT-SS 2299 Bifora testiculata Th DC. Bunium cylindricum IT 2261 (L.) Spreng. IT-M 2295 Ferulago macrocarpa Hem IT (Boiss. & Hohen.) Druce Ge Lagoecia cuminoides L. 2 Th IT-SS 2273 (Fenzl) Boiss. 2290 Pimpinella barbata Th IT-SS Pimpinella eriocarpa Banks. & Soland. Th IT-SS (DC.) Boiss. 2280 leptophylla Th 2055 Turgenia latifolia Th (L.) Reichenb. IT-M-ES 2085 Valerianaceae (L.) Hoffm. IT-M-ES 2070 Valerianella vesicaria Th 2794 Liliopsida (L.) Moench IT-M Poaceae umbellulata Th IT Avena fatua L. var. fatua Th Pl Zhuk. 2051 Avena wiestii Steud. Th 2057 danthoniae Trin. var. danthoniae Th IT IT-M-SS 2054 Bromus tectorum L. var. tectorum Th Pl 2063 schoenoides Th 2053 Cynodon dactylon (L.) Lam. IT-M-ES 2078 Echinaria capitata Th (L.) Pers. Ge Cosm 2099 Eremopoa persica persica Th (L.) Desf. IT-M 2081 bonaepartis bonaepartis Th IT (Trin.) Roshev. subsp. IT-M 2088 piliferum Th IT (Spreng.) Nevski var. 2065 bulbosum L. (Banks & Soland.) Hochst 2087 Hordeum leporinum Link Th Ge IT-M-SS 2077 Hordeum spontaneum Th IT-M 2064 temulentum L. Th Pl C. Koch IT-M 2091 Melica jacquemontii IT 2097 Phalaris minor Th Decne. ex Jacquem Ge 2069 Phragmites australis australis Retz. IT-M 2074 Poa bulbosa L. (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. subsp. Ge Cosm 2095 monspeliensis Th Pl Ge IT-M-ES 2080 montanum Hem (L.) Desf. 2052 Setaria viridis Th Pl Guss. IT-M 2050 barbata Hem IT (L.) P. Beauv. 2061 Taeniatherum crinitum Th Desf 2092 Iridaceae (Schreb.) Nevski IT-M 2086 Gynandriris sisyrinchium IT-SS 2134 Iris hymenospatha 2 IT (L.) Parl. Ge Liliaceae Mathew & Wendelbo Ge 2592 Allium longispalum Bertol. IT 2499 Allium jesdianum Boiss. & Buhse IT 2467 Ge Allium rotundum L. IT-ES Ge Muscaria tenuiflorum Tausch IT-ES 2477 Ge 2475 Ornithogalum cuspidatum Bertol. IT Ge Ge 2456

521 Dehshiri and Jozipoor | Angiosperms, Kuhdasht gypsum areas, Iran

et al. but only two (A. arpilobus and A. oxyglottis in Iran (Eftekhari and Assadi 2001; Eftekhari 2002), species,5.26, and 19 4.74% were woodyof the totalplants. species, respectively. Ninety- only three Astragalus species of the section) inHololeuce gypsum eightThe species environment were annuals of the andstudied 73 perennials.area, with arid From and all Bungeareas in (A. bicolor (Langran subsp. karputanusand Podlech, A. 2010). andrasovszkyi In addition, and cold climate, favors therophytes and hemicryptophytes. A. stenosemius The active growth periods of therophytes and Astragalus species, hemicryptophytes are concurrent with the rainy season ) were reportedAstragalus in gypsum areas in Turkey in late winter and early spring (Tavili et al. gypsum(Ekücü and areas. Eküm This 2004). genus We is foundnot halophytic five and does not most of the summer and all winter, hemicryptophytes while there were 25 species in adjacent non- loose their aboveground parts while therophytes 2009). remainDuring results show that Astragalus Iran,grow does in salty not areasoccur (Akhaniin gypsum and areas. Ghorbanli This result 1993). is Our in when gypsiferous soils are not open. Altitudinal variation , with about 800 species in canas .also be Chamaephytes a determinant andfactor phanerophytes for the relative onlyabundance occur and geographic distribution of different life forms, along Phytogeographicconflict with Akpulat regions and Celik (2005). et al. Hemicryptophytes were the most abundant life form with climate (Noroozi 2008). The proportions of taxa in each phytogeographic et al. regions are as follows: 92 species from IT (48.43%), 1 suggestedin the studies that of Eftekharihemicryptophytes and Assadi could (2001) adapt and Eftekharito harsh species from SS (0.53%), 6 species from IT-ES (3.16%), environmental (2002; conditions 49.1% and for 52.9%, growth respectively).and establishment, They 20 species from IT-SS (10.53%), 28 species from IT-M such as in gypsum habitats. Therophytes were the most (14.74%), 14 species from IT-M-ES (7.37%), 12 species from IT-M-SS (6.31%), 2 species from IT-ES-SS (1.05%), plants avoid stresses from the summer drought and winter 12 species from multi-regional (6.31%), 3 species from coldabundant (Barbour life formet al. (51.58%) in the studied area. These cosmopolitan (1.57%) (Tables 1–2). These results are of therophytes could also attributed to human activities Eftekhariin accordance et al. with our expectation, since the study area (Barbero et al. 1987). Moreover, the high proportion isstudy in the area IT is region open and (see steppe. also Eftekhari Elements and from Assadi, two or 2001; more regions comprise, 2002). more IT-M than elements half of the are species, present due since to the , 1990). Table 2. et al. Floristic properties of the studied area. IT: Irano-Turanian; M: low altitude (Noroozi 2008). Mediterranean; ES: Euro-Siberian; SS: Saharo-Sindian; Pl: polyregional; Gypsophila elymaitica Phanerophyte.Cosm: Cosmopolitan; LR: Lower risk; VU: Vulnerable; Th: Therophyte; We found 14 taxa (7.36%) endemic to Iran. However, Hem: Hemicryptophyte; Ge: Geophyte; Ch: Chamaephyte; Ph: indifferent plants. Endemism Mozaff. israte obligatory is lower gypsophyte. than the Dicotyledons Monocotyledons Total The other 13 taxa are preferential gypsophyte or Families 36 3 39 et al. Genera 112 137 average for Iran (23.91%), since the region is in lowland Species 31 25 (Noroozi 2008). This result is in disagreement with Subspecies 14 4 18 for the high endemism in Turkey is the gypsum habitats. 159 190 Akpulat and CelikAstragalus (2005), aytatchii who suggested only grows that in the deep reason soil, Varieties 9 4 13 Endemic taxa 14 14 For example, IT 82 92 0 gypsum fields, and slopes in Turkey (Akan and Civelek SS 1 1 10 2001). In arid and semi-arid environments with less than IT-ES 4 2 6 on upper surface of gypsiferous soils by evaporation 0 400 mm average annual rainfall, gypsum crystals sediment IT-SS 19 1 IT-M 21 7 28 20 (Pueyo and Alados 2007). Euphorbia IT-M-ES 12 2 14 craspediaWe found Boiss., that Quercus 21 taxa brantii were Lindl. threatened var. persica (20 taxa (Jaub. LR IT-M-SS 2 12 IT-ES-SS 2 2 and 1 taxon VU). We suggestGypsophila that three elymaitica taxa: 10 Pl 7 12 whose conservation status is unknown, must be assigned 0 Cosm 1 2 3 & Spach) Zohary, and Mozaff., 5 Astragalus kerkukiensis LR 19 1 VU 1 1 LR status in the study area, according to IUCN (2010). 20 Ph the study area. , previously a Data Deficient (DD) 0 Ch 9 9 species (Jalili and Jamzad 1999) was very abundantly in 10 0 10 Hem 2 Life forms 0 Ge 3 12 Therophytes, hemicryptophytes, geophytes, phanero- 56 58 Th 82 17 98 15 phytes, and chamaephytes included 51.58, 30.53, 7.89,

522 Dehshiri and Jozipoor | Angiosperms, Kuhdasht gypsum areas, Iran

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