Mostafa Assadi - Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, P. O. Box ۱۳۱۸۵-۱۱۶, Tehran. Iran.

The geographical distribution of the genus Acantholimon in Iran is discussed. Altogether ۷۹ species are known in Iran of which ۶۵ are endemics. Except for the Hyrcanian province, the other ۷ provinces contain at least one species of the genus Acantholimon , the Nubo-Sindian province having only one species. The C. Iranian province with ۲۹ species contains the highest number of the species. This province has ۱۴ endemic species of Acantholimon which is again the highest number compared to the other provinces. The number of endemics in different phytochoria is quite high; that is an indication that the limitation of provinces is well defined.

Acantholimon, Plumbaginaceae, phytogeography, distribution, Phytochorion, Iran