ALPINE AND SUB-ALPINE FLORISTIC SURVEY OF HASHTAD MOUNTAIN (CENTRAL ZAGROS), IRAN

Abstract

The Hashtad Mountain, with an elevation of approximately 3770 m.a.s.l., is one of the highest peaks of the Zagros Mountains in the west of Isfahan province. The objective of the present work was to study the flora of this mountain across different altitudinal ranges. The results showed that Hashtad Mountain has a rich flora with a high plant diversity. A total of 212 taxa belonging to 39 families and 135 genera were identified. Asteraceae, represented by 27 species, was the largest family, followed by Fabaceae and Lamiaceae with 26 and 20 species, respectively. Astragalus, with 21 species, was identified as the largest genus. The region was dominated by hemicryptophytes (59%) and chamaephytes (13.7%) in terms of life form. In terms of geographical distribution, 65.5% of the identified species belong to the Irano-Turanian region. 63 species (29.7%) were endemic to Iran, with 21 species (9.9%) specifically endemic to the Zagros, highlighting the area's rich biodiversity. However, mining, road construction, and overgrazing are significant threats to the biodiversity of this area. Protection measures, including defining protected areas and regulating human activities, are necessary to conserve the biodiversity of Hashtad Mountain. © 2024, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands of Iran. All rights reserved.