Floristic Study and Conservation Status of Takhte-Sartashtak Tourist Area in Kerman, Iran

Due to the high climatic diversity, Iran has a very rich flora, ۲۰ to ۲۵% of which is endemic to Iran. Of the ۳۴ centers of endemism in the world, five centers are located in Iran; most of them belong to high and mountainous areas. Flora, plant diversity and conservation status of the tourism area of Takhte-Sartashtak in the southeast of Iran have been studied. The area is located in the southwest of Kerman province. Its average altitude is ۳۶۰۰ m above sea level, the range of the longitude is ۵۷˚ ۶ʹ to ۵۷˚ ۱۴ʹ and latitude is ۲۹˚ ۱۶ʹ to ۲۹˚ ۲۳ʹ. This area is mountainous and a part of the Irano-Turanian region. Nearly, all wild vascular plants species of the area were collected and identified. Life form, chorotype, phenology, and medicinal use were determined. A total of ۳۰۶ plant species of ۴۹ families with ۱۹۵ genera were determined. Asteraceae with ۵۱ species and Astragalus with ۱۳ species were the largest family and genus respectively. There are ۶۰ (۱۹.۶%) endemic and ۴۶ (۱۵.۰۳%) rare identified plant taxa in this area. Because of various climatic conditions, different altitudes, and the creation of micro and macro-climates in the region, some species with various natures were seen. The conservation status of all plant species of the area in the world was determined using GeoCat online software; ۱۹۱ (۶۲.۴۲%) plant species were identified as threatened, of which, ۲۴ (۷.۸۵%) species are classified as Critically Endangered (CR), ۱۱۴ (۳۷.۲۵%) Endangered (EN), and ۵۳ (۱۷.۳۲%) Vulnerable (VU).

Floristic Study and Conservation Status of Takhte-Sartashtak Tourist Area in Kerman, Iran Keywords:

Flora , Diversity , Protected Area , Tourist Attraction , Iran