FLORISTIC STUDY OF DALAB WOODLANDS, NORTH-EAST OF ILAM PROVINCE, WEST IRAN

The present survey deals with the floristic study of Dalab Woodlands, located in Manesht and Ghelarang protected area, western Iran. It covers an area of 4335 ha. In total, 224 vascular plant species belonging to 46 families and 156 genera were identified. The largest families are Asteraceae (29 species), Fabaceae (23 species), Poaceae (22 species), and Apiaceae (18 species). Astragalus (13 species), Centaurea (9 species), Onosma (6 species), Bromus (5 species) and Amygdalus (3 species) are the most diverse genera of the region. The life form spectrum includes: hemichryptophytes (36.6 %), therophytes (33 %), cryptophytes (13.8 %), chamaephytes (8.9 %) and phanerophytes (7.6 %). From the chorological point of view, the largest proportion of the flora belongs to the Irano-Turanian (68.7 %) elements. About 22.32 % of the Dalab Woodlands species are endemic to Iran and six rare species including Alrawia bellii, Arum giganteum, Cousinia cylindracea, Echinops kotschyi, Thymbra spicata and Zeugandra iranica are also identified in this region.