The flora, life form and endangered species of karkas hunting prohibited region, Isfahan, iran

Floristic studies of any regions have high importance, because the floristic list is an exploration document to identify the existent species and consequently the potential of the area. Karkas hunting prohibited region has 92193 ha area and is located at the central part of Isfahan province. The aim of study was introducing the flora, life forms and endangered species of the studied area. Field data collections were conducted during the year 2006. First of all the site boundary was stated on topographic map with scale of 1:50,000. The second step was plant specimens’ collecting and their identification according to the flora which the finalized record was the floristic list of the studied region. The results prove the presence of 278 plant species belonging to 198 genus and 49 families. The Asteraceae with 28 genus and 49 species has the highest species diversity between other families. According to Raunkiaer’s life form criteria, hemicryptophytes 51.8%, therophytes 17.2%, chamaephytes 16.9%, phanerophytes 7.9% and geophytes has 5.7% of the total present species in the studied region. Also there is only one semi-parasite species from Family Loranthaceae There are about 99 medicinal and industrial species belong to 89 genus and 37 families. Each of the Asteraceae and Lamiaceae families has 14.1% of the medicinal plant species of the studied area which their numbers exceed to 14 species in each above named families. There are about 11 species of Vulnerable and 44 species of Lower Risk. As well most of the species are perennial and confirms the species adaptabilities to climatic and edaphic conditions of the studied area.