Alpine flora of Hezar mountain (SE Iran)

Abstract

Iran is a mountainous country. Hezar Mt., is an isolated mountain with the highest peak of 4465 m (above sea level) located in southeast of Iran. This paper aims to provide a general overview of alpine phytodiversity of Hezar Mt. Alpine regions are above timber-line which is dependent on the climate, slopes and human activities. The timberline at Hezar Mt., is varying from 3200 m (North slope) to 3,350 m (South slope). In this study, 208 species belonging to 122 genera and 39 families are known from the subalpine and alpine zone of Hezar. Hemicryptophytes dominate in the alpine belt (67%) and chamaephytes constitute 15% of the alpine flora, most of them are thorny cushions. Species number declines remarkably with increasing altitude whereas proportion of endemism is increasing. The altitudinal maximum record for the flowering plants is 4450 m. The phytogeographical analysis shows that about 46% (97 species) of the alpine flora of Hezar are Iranian endemic and subendemic and the origin of alpine flora of Hezar is Irano-Turanian.