Study of Autecology of the Medicinal Plant Pulicaria gnaphalodes (Vent.) Boiss in Noferest Region in South Khorasan

The medicinal plant of Pulicaria gnaphalodes which belongs to Asteraceae family, is a perennial, herbaceous and growing in some regions of Iran. The aim of this study was to investigate the habitat and behavior characteristics of Pulicaria gnaphalodes in the ecosystem of Noferest region for 2 years to evaluate the feasibility of domestication of this species. Systematic random sampling was used to determine the percentage of canopy cover, frequency and density. Characteristics of climatic, soil, phenology, morphological and yield traits, essential oil percent and reproduction method and preference value of the plant were investigated. The results showed that this species grows in Noferest habitat with an average annual rainfall of 176 mm, an average annual temperature of 16.5°C, canopy cover of 27%, frequency of 76% and density of 1650 plants per hectare. Soil experiments showed that Pulicaria gnaphalodes prefered sandy loam soil and soil acidity and electrical conductivity were 7.9 and 0.33 dS/m, respectively.T he highest percentage of shoot essential oil (0.5%) was obtained in full flowering stage. Phenological studies also showed that the vegetative growth of Pulicaria gnaphalodes started in mid-April and continued until late September. Flowering startede in early June and continued until late September. Seed maturation also started in early July. After maturation, the seeds fell off and the stagnation period started in early October.