Investigation of Flora, Life Form, and Medicinal Species in the Central Part of Eastern Kiyar (between Dastgerd Imamzadeh and Shalamzar) in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province
Carrying out scientific activities in various biological, agricultural, pharmaceutical and industrial fields in a region requires knowing and introducing the collection of plants in that region. The study of plant biodiversity in Central Zagros is important from different aspects and has been the focus of attention. In this research, the flora of a region of Eastern Kiyar including 5 villages located in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province was investigated. Plant specimens were collected and identified in two vegetative periods, and traits related to the biological form, belonging to the vegetative area, condition, and medicinal potential of the species were determined. The results showed that the flora of this area consisted of 269 species belonging to 181 genera and 48 genera. The most important families in terms of the number of species were Asteraceae (51 species), Fabaceae (24 species), Brassicaceae (23 species), and the largest families in terms of the number of genera were Asteraceae (27 genera), Brassicaceae, (17 genera), Poaceae (16 genera) and Lamiaceae (13 genera) respectively. The study of the frequency of vegetative forms by the Raunkiaer method in the flora of the region showed that 47% of the species were hemi-cryptophyte, 32% of the species were therophytes, 12% geophytes, 6% chamophytes and 2% phanerophytes. Also, 188 species (70%) belonged to the Iran-Turani vegetation zone. Among the species, 66 medicinal species and two species in critical conservation status were detected.IntroductionCarrying out scientific activities in various biological, agricultural, pharmaceutical, and industrial fields in a region requires knowing and introducing the collection of plants in that region. The study of plant biodiversity in Central Zagros is important from different aspects and has been the focus of attention. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province has high plant diversity due to its location in this area, and numerous studies have been conducted on its flora and vegetation, but a comprehensive study has not been done in some of its areas. In order to complete the floristic studies of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, in the present study, the flora of five villages from the surroundings of Eastern Kiar district in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, whose flora has not been reported so far, facilities were investigated with the aim of introducing a complete list of species, recognizing species with medicinal value, reviewing the status of species as rare, endemic, and endangered plants, and determining biological forms of the species. Materials and MethodsIn this research, the flora of the central part of Eastern Kiyar, including five villages including Gishnizjan, Teshniz, Dezak, Ghalae Salim, and Mousiabad, located in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, was investigated. The area of the region is about 25.5 square kilometers and the average height above sea level was recorded as 2041.9 meters. According to the ambrothermic diagram of this region, about 6 months of the year (half of May to half of October) are considered dry months of the year and the plants of this region are exposed to drought during these months. Plant samples were collected and identified in two vegetative periods, and the traits related to the biological form, belonging to the vegetative area, condition and medicinal power of the species were determined using botanical scientific sources such as Flora Iranica and Flora of Iran. FindingsBased on the survey conducted in the study area, 269 species belonging to 181 genera and 48 families were identified out of 500 plant samples collected. Out of this number, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, and Poaceae had the highest number of genera among other plant families in this region with 27, 17, and 16 genera, respectively. The most important families in terms of the number of species were Asteraceae (51 species), Fabaceae (24 species), and Brassicaceae (23 species). Cosmopolite vegetative elements were in the next position with 4% (11 species). Of the total species identified in the central part of Eastern Kiyar, 23 species (8.58%) were endemic. Fabaceae and Lamiaceae with 5 species and Asteraceae with 3 species were among the largest endemic families in the region. Of the total plant species identified in the study area, 66 medicinal species (24.5%) belonging to 26 plant families were identified. In the conducted investigations, it was found that Lamiaceae with 13 species (19.4 percent), Asteraceae with 12 medicinal species (17.4 percent), Rosaceae and Fabaceae with 4 species (5.7 percent), Ranunculacea, Plantaginacea, and Malvaceae were present with 3 medicinal species (4.3 percent), Chenopodiaceae with 2 species (2.8 percent), and the rest of the families with one medicinal species. Results and ConclusionThe study of the flora in the central part of Eastern Kiar in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province showed that this area has a good species richness like other areas of this province. The study identified 269 plant species in an area of about 2500 hectares with the dominant vegetative form of hemicryptophyte and its belonging to the Iran-Tourani region. Also, 32 endemic and 66 medicinal species were introduced with the two species being at a critical level in terms of conservation status