Flora, Life Form and Chorology of Winter and Rural Range Plants in the Northern Khorasan Province, Iran

Floristic studies are fundamental for the applied sciences such as rangeland management and conservation. Unique ecological and climatic conditions in the Northern Khorasan Province (NKP) make it a remarkable habitat for the floristic studies. Plant species were collected from 50 field sites, representing major habitats of winter and rural rangelands. Surveys were conducted during active growth periods in 2007 and 2008. Plant species were identified and their chorology and life form determined through laboratory examinations and by using reference books. Floristic surveys resulted in identification of 534 plant species, belonged to 315 genus and 68 families. Asteraceae, Poaceae and Fabaceae were respectively the most abundant plant families. Among the life forms, Hemicryptophytes, Therophytes, Chamaephytes, Phanerophytes and Geophytes included 45, 32, 9, 7 and 7% of the total species, respectively. Irano-Turanian was the most dominant (65%) Chorotypes. The dominance of Hemicryptophytes and Therophytes, as well as vast distribution of Chamaephytes, can be referred to the simultaneous effects of climate fluctuations and livestock grazing on the flora of winter and rural rangelands in NKP.