This research was carried out to identify and introduce the threatened medicinal plants, life form, and chorotypes of them in Tehran watershed. Initially after distributed species identification on the watershed based on the fieldwork, each of the species was compared with the red list and finalized. Results showed that in Tehran watershed there are 51 threatend medicinal plants belonging to 21 families and 43 genera. The families with the high number of red species include, Rosaceae (8 species) and Lamiaceae (7 species), and the main genera was Ferula (3 species). 43 species isd Endemic in Iran, 3 species are in Data Deficient (DD), 20 species in Vulnerable (VU) and 26 in Low Risk (LR) status. Two species Ferula persica Willd. and Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. are in Endangered (EN) status Because of low distribution and overuse of those. The dominant life forms of the identified species using Raunkiaer's method were: Hemicryptophytes (He) with 41.18% (21 species) and Phanerophytes (Ph) with 39.22% (20 species). From the choryotype perspective, the most of the identified species belongs to Irano-Turanean, and then Europe-Siberian- Irano-Turanean regions

Ghorbani, Ardavan

Kavianpoor, Amir Hossein

Sharifi-Rad, Javad

Sharifi-Rad, Majid

English

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Research in Plant Biology, 4(5): 01-08, 2014                                                         ISSN : 2231-5101  www.resplantbiol.com   Regular Article  Biodiversity, life forms and chorotypes of threatend medicinal plants in Tehran watershed, Iran  Ardavan Ghorbani1*, Amir Hossein Kavianpoor2, Majid Sharifi-Rad3**, Javad Sharifi-Rad4, 5   1Department of Range and Watershed Management, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Iran 2Department of Range and Watershed Management; Gorgan University of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran 3Department of Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran 4 Zabol Medicinal Plants Research Center, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran 5 Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran Corresponding Author's E-mail: *ardavanica@yahoo.com; **majid.sharifirad@gmail.com   This research was carried out to identify and introduce the threatened medicinal plants, life form, and chorotypes of them in Tehran watershed. Initially after distributed species identification on the watershed based on the fieldwork, each of the species was compared with the red list and finalized. Results showed that in Tehran watershed there are 51 threatend medicinal plants belonging to 21 families and 43 genera. The families with the high number of red species include, Rosaceae (8 species) and Lamiaceae (7 species), and the main genera was Ferula (3 species). 43 species isd Endemic in Iran, 3 species are in Data Deficient (DD), 20 species in Vulnerable (VU) and 26 in Low Risk (LR) status. Two species Ferula persica Willd. and Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. are in Endangered (EN) status Because of low distribution and overuse of those. The dominant life forms of the identified species using Raunkiaer's method were: Hemicryptophytes (He) with 41.18% (21 species) and Phanerophytes (Ph) with 39.22% (20 species). From the choryotype perspective, the most of the identified species belongs to Irano-Turanean, and then Europe-Siberian- Irano-Turanean regions.   Keywords: Biodiversity, Endemic species, Vulnerable and endangered species, Conservation of Tehran watershed species.          Iran have a suitable position because of it's phylogenetical reserves (more than 7500 plant species), weathering (11 of 13 types of world climate) and political geography conditions is an important habitat in the field of medicinal plants. Identifying and introduction of endemic medicinal plants of one country is necessary in management of using them, and then develop the idustry of the medicinal plants. The IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria were developed for classifying species at high risk of global extinction (IUCN 2001, 2003), i.e. for assessment at the global level. At regional, national and local levels with two options: 1) to publish an unaltered subset of the global Red List encompassing those species that reproduce in the region or at any stage regularly visit the region. This may be a feasible option, particularly when the Ardavan Ghorbani  et al. / Research in Plant Biology, 4(5): 01-08, 2014  2  region has a high number of endemics or threatened near endemics, or when there is currently a pronounced overall deficiency of data pertaining to species status within the region (IUCN, 2003). 2) To assess species’ extinction risk and publish Red Lists within the specific region (IUCN, 2003). For the purposes of regional conservation assessments there are important reasons to assess species’ extinction risk and publish Red Lists within specific geographically defined areas. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species highlights species that are at the greatest risk of extinction and promotes their conservation by ‘concentrating minds on true priorities’ (Collar, 1996). Assessment of extinction risk and setting conservation priorities are two related but different processes. Assessment of extinction risk, such as the assignment of IUCN Red List Categories, generally precedes the setting of priorities. The purpose of the Red List categorization is to produce a relative estimate of the likelihood of extinction of the taxon, draw attention to the conservation needs of select species to be under threat (Scott et al., 1987). This approach successfully attracted conservation efforts to many such species, but the Red List is now more powerful because it has moved towards documenting entire species clades and regions, including threatened and non-threatened species (IUCN, 2004) the obtained results are often incorporated in Action Plans aimed at the recovery of species. Setting conservation priorities, on the other hand, which normally includes the assessment of extinction risk, also takes into account other factors such as ecological, phylogenetic, historical, or cultural preferences for some taxa over others, as well as the probability of success of conservation actions, availability of funds or personnel to carry out such actions, and legal frameworks for conservation of threatened taxa. In the context of regional risk assessments, a number of additional pieces of information are valuable for setting conservation priorities (IUCN, 2003). Loss of genetic and species diversity by the destruction of natural habitats will take many years to correct and restore (Ejtehadi et al., 2003). Therefore the primarily goal of this research has been to document threatened endemic medicinal plants of Tehran watershed and present recommendations for conservation action.  Materials and Methods Study area Tehran watershed with 206484 hectare area is located at Tehran province in Iran (51° 10' 26" E to 51° 41' 00" and 35° 22' 26" N to 35° 57' 17"). It has 900-3957 m altitude above sea surface (Fig. 1). The climate is arid to semi-arid at rough regions and cold to cold-humid at elevations based on Emberger method with annual precipitation 150-750 mm. rainfall at rough regions is rain and snow at elevations. Minimum and maximum monthly mean temperatures were -9.6 and 38 in January and August respectively.                      Fig. 1. The location of study area  Ardavan Ghorbani  et al. / Research in Plant Biology, 4(5): 01-08, 2014  3  To investigation the vegetation cover of this study area, after preliminary investigations and using land use maps at 1:50000 scale, studying related references (Mobayen, 1980-1996; Mozaffarian, 1983; Javanshir and Riazi, 1987; Ghahraman, 1975-2003 and Rechinger, 1963–1998) and field studies, were selected 31 habitats at different elevations using aspect and slopes and distance to Tehran city. Collection and identification of plant species was conducted with field studies. Positions were recorded by GPS. Not identified species transported to laboratory and the herbarium of Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands to identification. Assessment the risk of extinction performed with two phases. 1) Comparison and adjustment of identified species in the study area with the Iran Endangered flowered Species (Jalili and Jamzad, 1999). 2) Assessment of 650 species using The IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN, 2001) and regional (IUCN, 2003) and other related references including (Ghahraman and Attar, 1998; Jalili, 2000; Khansari, 2001; Jalili and Jamzad, 2005; Salehi Shanjani, 2005; Abdi, 2008).    875 542 21 12 21 1 1 1 121 1 120123456789Number of speciesFamilies  Fig. 2. Contribution of different plant families in the study area  21205320510152025He Ph Ch Th GeNumber of speciesLife form Fig. 3. Life form of species in the study area based on Raunkiaer's method (He= Hemicryptophyte; Ph= Phanerophyte; Ch= Chamephyte; Th= Therophyte; Ge= Geophyte) Ardavan Ghorbani  et al. / Research in Plant Biology, 4(5): 01-08, 2014  4  875 5420123456789IT ES- IT IT- M- ES Cosmopolite IT- M ESNumber of speciesChorotype Fig. 4. Geographical distribution of plant species (IT= Irano-Turanean; ES= Europe-Siberian; M= Mediterrainean; Cosm= Cosmopolit)  262032051015202530LR VU DD ENNumber of speciesExtinction risk  Fig. 5.The extinction risk of identified species based on The IUCN Red List Categories (LR= Lower Risk; VU= vulnerable; DD= Data Deficient; EN= Endangered)  Results  Of the 51 threatend medicinal plants belonging to 21 families and 43 genera were identified in Tehran watershed (Table 1). The families with the high number of red species include, Rosaceae (8 species), Lamiaceae (7 species), Asteraceae (5 species), Poaceae (5 species) and Apiaceae (4 species). The main genera was Ferula (3 species), Berberis, Ephedra, Nepeta, Fraxinus, Amygdalus and Rosa (2 species). 43 identified species on the study area is Endemic in Iran. The extinction risk of identified species based on The IUCN Red List Categories were: 3 species are in Data Deficient status (DD), 20 species in vulnerable status (VU) and 26 in Lower Ardavan Ghorbani  et al. / Research in Plant Biology, 4(5): 01-08, 2014  5  Risk (LR) status. Two species Ferula persica Willd. and Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss., Because of low distribution and overuse of those are in Endangered (EN) status. Life forms of the identified species based on Raunkiaer's method (1934) were: Hemicryptophytes (He) 41.18% (21 species), Phanerophytes (Ph) 39.22% (20 species), Chamephytes (Ch) 9.80% (5 species), Therophytes (Th) 5.88% (3 species), and Geophytes (Ge) 3.92% (2 species). From the choryotype perspective, 62.75% (32 species) identified species belongs to Irano-Turanean, and then Europe-Siberian- Irano-Turanean regions 19.61% (10 species), Cosmopolite 5.88% (3 species), Irano-Turanean – Mediterrainean - Europe-Siberian 5.88% (3 species), Irano-Turanean– Mediterrainean 3.92% (2 species) and Europe-Siberian 1.96% (1 species).  Table 1. Family name, life form, chorotype, Danger status, Endemism and Elevation of threatened medicinal plants in the study area  Elevation Endemism Danger status  chorotype Life form Species              1.   Anacardiaceae 1200-2000 End VU IT  Ph  1-Pistacia atlantica Desf. sub sp. mutica (Fisch. & C. A. Mey.) Rech. 1600-2200 End VU IT, M Ph  2-Rhus coriaria L. 2. Apiaceae / Umbelliferae 1700-2300 End LR  ES, IT  Ch  3-Eriocycla olivieri (Boiss.) Wolff. 1900-2000 End LR  IT  Hem   4-Ferula gummosa Boiss. 1500-2800 End LR IT Hem  5-Ferula ovina (Boiss.) Boiss. 1600-2200 End EN  IT  Hem  6-Ferula persica Willd.           3.    Asteraceae / Compositae 1400-2300 End LR  Cosm  Hem  7-Achillea millefolium L. 1600-1900 End LR IT Hem 8-Echinops cephalotes DC. 900-2500 End LR IT Hem  9-Scariola orientalis (Boiss.) Sojak. 1400-2400 N  LR IT Hem 10-Tanacetum polycephalum Schultz Bip. 1500-1800 End  LR  IT Hem 11-Taraxacum bessarabicum (Hornem.) Hand.-Mazz.            4.     Berberidaceae 950-2100 End VU ES, IT  Ph  12-Berberis integerrima Bunge. 1500-2500 End  VU IT, M, ES  Ph  13-Berberis vulgaris L. 5. Brassicaceae/ Cruciferae 1200-2200 End LR IT  Hem 14-Alyssum bracteatum Boiss. & Buhse.            6.   Cupressaceae 1500-2500 End VU IT  Ph  15-Juniperus excelsa MB.            7.   Ephedraceae 1300-2500 End VU IT  Ph 16-Ephedra major Host. 1300-1800 End VU IT Ph 17-Ephedra procera Fisch. & Meyer.  8. Fabaceae 1800-2400 End  LR  IT  Hem  18-Astragalus cemerinus G. Beck ex Stapf.  900-2000 N LR  IT, M, ES   Hem  19-Glycyrrhiza glabra  L. 9. Fumariaceae 1800-2400 End  LR  ES, IT Th  20-Fumaria vaillantii Loisel. 10. Lamiaceae / Labiatae 1500-3000 End  EN  IT   Ch 21-Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. 1400-1900 End  LR IT  Ch  22-Lagochilus kotschyanus Boiss. 1600-1800 End  LR IT  Hem  23-Mentha piperita L. 1400-2700 End  LR IT  Ch  24-Nepeta glumerulosa Boiss.  3000-3200 End  LR  ES, IT Hem  25-Nepeta pogonsperma Jamzad & Assadi 1500-3000 N LR  IT Ch  26-Thymus kotchyanous Boiss.  & Hohen. Ardavan Ghorbani  et al. / Research in Plant Biology, 4(5): 01-08, 2014  6  1500-3500 N VU   IT  Hem  27-Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. 11. Liliaceae/Alliaceae 1700-2000 End LR IT Ge  28-Allium atroviolaceum Boiss. 12. Linaceae 1000-2000 End  DD  IT  Hem  29-Linum usitatissimum L. 13. Malvaceae 1500-1800 N LR  ES, IT  Hem  30-Althaea officinallis L.             14.  Moraceae 1200-2000 End  VU IT, M Ph  31-Ficus carica L.  15. Oleaceae 1000-2000 N LR  ES, IT  Ph  32-Fraxinus excelsior L. 1700-1900 End  LR  IT  Ph  33-Fraxinus rotundifolia Mill. 16. Papaveraceae 1500-2000 End DD IT  Th  34-Papaver modestum Jord. 17. Poaceae/ Gramineae 1800 End  LR  IT Hem  35-Bromus tomentellus Boiss. 900-2500 End LR Cosm Hem  36-Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. 1200-2500 End LR ES, IT Hem  37-Dactylis glomerata L. 1400-2400 End VU ES, IT Hem  38-Festuca ovina L. 1400-2000 End LR IT Ge  39-Psathyrostachys fragilis (Boiss.) Neveski. 18. Rosaceae 1200-2500 End  LR  IT  Ph  40-Amygdalus lycioides Spach. 1500-2000 End VU IT Ph  41-Amygdalus scoparia Spach. 1300-2800 End VU  IT Ph  42-Cotoneaster nummularioides Pojark. 1300-2000 End VU IT Ph  43-Crataegus oxyacantha L. 2000 End VU ES, IT  Ph  44-Malus orientalis Ugl. 1600 End VU  ES Ph  45-Mespilus germanica L. 900-2500 End VU IT, M, ES  Ph  46-Rosa canina L. 1100-2200 End VU IT  Ph  47-Rosa foetida Herm. 19. Salicaceae 1300 End VU IT  Ph  48-Populus euphratica Oliv.             20.  Ulmaceae 1600-2000 End VU  ES, IT Ph  49-Ulmus minor Miller. 21. Zygophyllaceae 1500-2300 N  VU  Cosm   Th 50-Tribulus terrestris L. 900-1200 N  DD  IT Hem 51-Zygophyllum fabago L.  Discussion  Iran is the habitat of over 7500 plant species, because of its climatic diversity and high biodiversity has many capabilities in related to the medicinal plants. Based on some studies, about 10 to %15 of Iran’s species consist of the medicinal plants. Tehran watershed with having varied ecological factors has good condition for distribution of medicinal plants. But two species Ferula persica Willd. and Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. are in Endangered (EN) status Because of low distribution, overuse, Increasing consumption demand of the rural and municipal communities, Increasing the cattle and ranches and ignoring the appropriate principals of utilization on rangeland arae (e.g. overgrazing, grazing premature and eradication). Mismanage-ment on the rangeland areas caused change in the mixture of plant community. Based on IUCN Categories and Criteria, Evidence show that many Endemic medicinal plants at the greatest risk of extinction. Therefore natural resourses managers should be promotes their conservation planning. If its conservation measures are not achieved, the species may be extinct and will be into the extinct class. We present a series of recommendations for conservation action: 1) it needs to conserve the genotypes by Ardavan Ghorbani  et al. / Research in Plant Biology, 4(5): 01-08, 2014  7  considering conservation management and seeds collection for plant genetic banks. 2) Introducing adopted genotypes with the acceptable material efficiency for reproducing them at herbs farms (in the same ecoregions). 3) Moreover, improvement of the dominant attitude in the watershed and rangeland management sectors, in regards to the use of herbs directly on the natural habitat of these plants. Again, we emphasis that such researches should be performed at other regions beacause recognition and documentation of plant species particularly at the danger status and their geographical distribution are essential for further researches as well as for their protection. Such researches help the natural resourses managers to decrease or eliminate the danger of plant extinction by appropriate planning.   References Abdi N. 2008. Evalution of red plant biodiversity in Markazi province. Iran. J. Rangelan. Forests Plant Breeding. Genet. Res. 16(1): 50-74. (In Persian). Collar NJ. 1996. The reasons for Red Data Books. Oryx 30: 121–130. Ejtehadi H, Amini T, Kianmehr H, Assadi M. 2003. Floristical and Chorological Studies of Vegetation in Myankaleh Wildlife Refuge, Mazandaran Province, Iran. Iranian Int. J. Sci. 4(2): 107-120. Ghahraman, A. 1975-2003. Colored Flora of Iran, Vol. 1-20, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands Press, Tehran, Pp. 2625. (In Persian). Ghahraman, A. 1978. 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Biodiversity, life forms and chorotypes of threatend medicinal plants in Tehran watershed, Iran

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Biodiversity, life forms and chorotypes of threatend medicinal plants in Tehran watershed, Iran

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