Floristic investigation in Chubin Mountaion, Chaharmahal and Bakhtyari Province

The Chubin Mountain with an area of 1232 hectares is located in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, between 32 ̊ 30ˊ to 32 ̊ 33ˊ N and 50 ̊ 50ˊ to 50 ̊ 53ˊ E. The minimum and maximum elevation of this area is 2104 and 3335 meters from the sea level, respectively. The climate of this region is cold semi-humid and its mean annual precipitation is about 516 mm. The aim of the present research was study of flora, life forms, geographical distribution (chorology) and medicinal species of this area. The results showed that 230 plant species belonging to 148 genera and 38 families grow in this mountainous area. Asteraceae (31% species and 21 genera), Fabaceae (26 species and 17 genera), Brassicaceae (25 species and 17 genera), Lamiaceae (21 species and 12 genera) and Ranunculaceae (10 species and 6 genera) are the largest families and Euphorbia (10 species), Centaurea (six species), Astragalus (six species) and Ranunculus (five species) are the largest genera in this region. The life forms of plant species includes 41% Hemicryptophytes, 37% Therophytes, 15% Cryptophytes, 5% Chamaephytes and 2% Phanerophytes. The geographical distribution of species showed that 153 species (66.5%) are Irano–Touranian elements, from which 25 species are endemic for the flora of Iran. Furthermore, 57 medicinal species (belongs to 45 genera and 21 families), 27 alpine species and 18 semi-alpine species are found in this area.