Exploring the Characteristics of the Habitat of the Endangered Species of Kelussiaodoratissima Mozaff

Kelussiaodoratissima (wild celery) is a plant with medicinal and endemic values in Iran. It has been reported to be present only in some of the provinces of Iran such as Isfahan, and it is endangered due to illegal harvesting. The purpose of this study is the analysis of habitat characteristics of this species by means of plant, topographic, and climatic factors such as precipitation, temperature, the number of freezing and snowy days, relative humidity, and the sunny hours in its habitats in Isfahan province for determining the conditions required for its mass cultivation. First, the distribution boundary of the species was specified using 1:50000 topographic maps and field activities during 2006-2008. Afterwards, the maps of the habitat and climatic-factors were designed by means of twenty-year-period data from climatic stations inside and nearby to the study area, using Arcgis and Surfer software. The results indicated that wild celery grows in regions with 2000 to 3500 height range, and the slope range of 30% to more than 60%, with the average annual precipitation ranging from 719 to 943 mm, the average annual temperature varied from 9 to 12 C, the freezing and snowy days ranging from 104 to 134 and 27 to 40, and the relative moisture and sunny hours varied from 44% to 48% and 2935 to 2981 hours, respectively. Kelussiaodoratissima habitat was classified as a cold humid climate, using Embereget method, and as a very humid climate on the basis of De Martonne method. On the whole, the results of this study may be useful for site selection of appropriate fields for growing Kellusia odoratissima.