Floristic study of Munjughlu sanctuary zone in Marakan protected area (East Azarbaijan province, NW Iran)

Munjughlu sanctuary zone with ۵۲۷۰ hectares in East Azarbaijan province is one of three sanctuary zones in the Marakan protected area.During ۲۰۰۸–۲۰۰۹, ۲۳۶ taxa (۲۳ subspecies, ۲۲ varieties and one form) belonging to ۱۶۶ genera and ۳۸ families were collected and determined for this zone.Among them, ۲۰۸ taxa are dicots and ۲۸ are monocots. Family Compositae with ۴۶ species and Cruciferae with ۲۳ species are the largest families followed byAmaranthaceae with ۲۱ species and Poaceae with ۱۶ species. The most diverse genera are Astragalus and Centaurea. This area contains ۱۴ endemic taxa, seven rare taxa and five monotypic genera. For the first time, ۲۱ taxa from Northwest Iran and ۱۴ taxa from East Azarbaijan and a single taxon from East and West Azarbaijan are reported here. 

Keywords:

Aras , Flora , chorotype , West Azarbaijan