A floristic study of Garasmasar Mountains: Mazandaran Province, Iran

Garasmasar mountainous area is located at ۴۰ km southwest of Ramsar, west of Mazandaran Province, Iran with an altitude ranging from ۱۵۸۰ to ۲۸۵۰ m. The complicated topography and habitat heterogeneity led to the formation of diverse vegetation types in the area. The field data were collected by ۳۰ phytosociology plots with an area of ۲۵ m۲ and also field sampling. Based on this two-year samplings in this region, ۴۲۶ species belonging to ۲۱۱ genera and ۴۷ families were identified. In total, dicotyledons by ۳۴۹ taxa, monocotyledons by ۷۲, pteridophyte by ۳, and gymnosperms by ۲ species were observed. In this area, the most richness families were Asteraceae (۵۲ species), Poaceae (۴۲ species), Lamiaceae (۳۹ species), Rosaceae (۳۴ species), Fabaceae (۲۹ species), and Brassicaceae (۲۸ species), respectively. The floristic composition of the area was strongly influenced by a large number of Irano-Turanian by ۲۱۱ species (۵۰%), Irano-Turanian/Euro-Siberian elements by ۸۳ species (۲۰%), and the pluriregional by ۵۰ species (۱۲%). Based on Raunkiaer life form classification, hemicryptophytes and therophytes by ۵۸% and ۱۹% were the dominant life forms in Garasmasar altitudes respectively. This study area is one of the most diverse and inaccessible mountainous regions on the northern slopes of the Alborz range and could be considered as a protected area in the future.

Keywords:

Subalpine flora , Floristic study , Garasmasar , Ecotone , Alborz Mountain range