Alpine flora of Hezar mountain (SE Iran)

Iran is a mountainous country. Hezar Mt., is an isolated mountain with the highest peak of ۴۴۶۵ m (above sea level) located in southeast of Iran. This paper aims to provide a general overview of alpine phytodiversity of Hezar Mt. Alpine regions are above timber-line which is dependent on the climate, slopes and human activities. The timberline at Hezar Mt., is varying from ۳۲۰۰ m (North slope) to ۳,۳۵۰ m (South slope). In this study, ۲۰۸ species belonging to ۱۲۲ genera and ۳۹ families are known from the subalpine and alpine zone of Hezar. Hemicryptophytes dominate in the alpine belt (۶۷%) and chamaephytes constitute ۱۵% of the alpine flora, most of them are thorny cushions. Species number declines remarkably with increasing altitude whereas proportion of endemism is increasing. The altitudinal maximum record for the flowering plants is ۴۴۵۰ m. The phytogeographical analysis shows that about ۴۶% (۹۷ species) of the alpine flora of Hezar are Iranian endemic and subendemic and the origin of alpine flora of Hezar is Irano-Turanian. 

کلیدواژه ها:

Alpine flora ، Endemism ، Hezar Mt ، phytogeography ، vegetation