Investigation on flora and habitat conditions of wild Fig (Ficus johannis Boiss.) in Shirkuh Mountains, Yazd

In this survey، we investigated the flora and habitat conditions of wild Fig (Ficus johannis Boiss.) in a part of its natural habitat in Yazd province. To obtain climatic information، the required data were obtained from the closest climatologic stations. With average precipitation of 177. 4 mm/year and the average annual temperature of 14. 4 °C، the study area is a dry temperate region. Physiochemical analyses were conducted on previously-taken soil samples. Floristic investigation was conducted in two subdistricts (Sadegh-Abad and Mazrae-Ghebleh). Moreover، qualitative and quantitative characteristics of trees were recorded via transect sampling. Results of soil analysis indicated that F. johannis grows in the soils featuring a pH ranging between 7. 74 and 8. 39 with sand-silt texture. Results also showed that there were 27 families، 64 genera and 73 species in the study area. The family of Compositae with 22% (16 species) and Labiatae with 14% (10 species) presented the highest richness among all families. In terms of biological forms، the following composition was indicated: Chaemoephytes with 34% (25 species)، Throphytes with 12% (7 species)، Hemicryptophytes with 40% (27 species)، Microphanerophytes and Nanophanerophytes with 5% (4 species)، Geophytes with 6% (5 species) and Mezophanerophytes with 1 % (one species). Among the total 90 species، 15 species were found to be endemic to Iran. F. johannis was evaluated as a hydrophyte species according to its frequent growth in valley margins which is due to higher moisture content. The transect sampling resulted in calculating the population density and cover in Mazrae-Ghebleh (46 ha-1 and 3. 51 %. ha-1) as well as in Sadegh-Abad district (49 ha-1 and 7. 76 %. ha-1)، respectively. Overall qualitative features of trees were moderate. Partial withering of branches was observed in majority of trees but no damage was observed on stems.