A checklist of vascular plants of the Sorkhabad Protected Area, Zanjan Province, NW Iran

This study aimed to provide the first floristic checklist from Sorkhabad Protected Area in Zanjan Province, Northwest Iran. This area is one of the large protected areas in the Irano-Anatolian global biodiversity hotspot. This study was conducted based on the extensive field surveys during the growing season from ۲۰۱۹ to ۲۰۲۱. Our results documented ۵۲۳ taxa of vascular plants belonging to ۲۹۰ genera and ۷۰ families. The most prominent families are Asteraceae (۴۴ genera, ۶۶ species), Brassicaceae (۲۴ genera, ۳۶ species), Poaceae (۲۱ genera, ۳۸ species) and Fabaceae (۱۷ genera, ۴۴ species). The richest genera are Astragalus L. (۱۹ species), Bromus L., Papaver L., Salvia L. and Silene L. (each with ۷ species), Allium L., Centaurea L., and Glaucium Mill. (each with ۶ species). Hemicryptophytes (۲۱۸ taxa, ۴۲%) are the most dominant life form followed by therophytes (۱۶۲ taxa, ۳۱%), and Irano-Turanian elements (۲۹۶ taxa, ۵۷%) are the most common plants. Current results provide baseline data for future studies, such as conservation, and phytogeography.

کلیدواژه ها:

Floristic diversity ، Qezel Ozan River ، Irano-Anatolian ، Qaflankoh Mountains ، Zanjanrood River