Floristic study of Munjughlu sanctuary zone in Marakan protected area (East Azarbaijan province, NW Iran)

Munjughlu sanctuary zone with 5270 hectares in East Azarbaijan province is one of three sanctuary zones in the Marakan protected area. During 2008–2009، 236 taxa (23 subspecies، 22 varieties and one form) belonging to 166 genera and 38 families were collected and determined for this zone. Among them، 208 taxa are dicots and 28 are monocots. Family Compositae with 46 species and Cruciferae with 23 species are the largest families followed by Amaranthaceae with 21 species and Poaceae with 16 species. The most diverse genera are Astragalus and Centaurea. This area contains 14 endemic taxa، seven rare taxa and five monotypic genera. For the first time، 21 taxa from Northwest Iran and 14 taxa from East Azarbaijan and a single taxon from East and West Azarbaijan are reported here. Dominant life forms include therophytes (40%)، followed by hemicryptophytes (31. 92%). The chorological study shows that bi- tri- or plural elements with 58. 95% of the chorotypes are dominant، followed by Irano-turanian elements with 39/77%.