Floristic zonation in southern part of the central Zagros of Iran

Southern part of the species-rich central Zagros region overlaps with three provinces in west ofIran. Plant species presence data in fifty local floras were compiled into a dataset of ۲۸۴۹ plantspecies, grouped into ۷۵۶ genera and ۱۱۱ families based on APG۴. Floristic structure of theregion, with a surface area of ۱۲۲۰۰۰ km۲, between latitudes N ۳۰.۳۷۴ and N ۳۴.۴۵۸ wasdetermined through multivariate analysis of occurrence data. Results showed that floristicstructure of the region consisted of four distinct areas. Characteristics of the four inferred areas(subregions) are presented. Sixty-one percent of total species were native of Irano-Turanianphytochorion, ۲۴% endemics, and ۳۰% medicinal. Results shows that, those local floras locatedin the mid part of the study region had higher species count, higher share of native, endemic, andthreatened taxa, but the flora of the lower part of the study region, had less share of nativespecies. Floristic data are important sources of information for vegetation and conservationsciences, and to identify the gaps in regional flora.

Keywords:

Central Zagros , Floristic database , Iran , Structure