Classification of box tree plant communities (Buxus hyrcana Pojark.) In the Cheshmeh bolbol forest (Bandar Gaz Golestan)

This study was conducted with the aim of classifying the Box tree forests of the plant communities in Bandar Gaz Golestan. For this purpose, Vegetation releves, 97 numbers, were made at peak vegetation cover by systematic-selective method in 200 meter grid dimensions with an area of 400 square meters by using Braun-Blanquet and consideration indicator stands concept. In each releves, all vascular plant species were recorded, and their percentage cover was visually assessed using a modification of the ordinal van der Maarel cover-abundance scale. The classification of plant communities was done using the combined results of two modified TWINSPAN methods and a Braun-Blanquet table synthesis method. Determination of diagnostic types was also done using the qualitative index of correlation coefficient. The results showed that in the area of the region, there are five plant communities in the form of two communities: Danae racemocii Buxetum hyrcanae and Parrotia persicae-Buxetum hyrcany and five subspecies of Quercos castaneifolia, Acer cappadocicum, Cornus australis, Ficus carica and Zelkova carpinifolia. The results of this study, while introducing Box tree Syntaxons in the eastern part of Hyrcany, indicate the high sociality of the Box tree species in the formation of distinct herbaceous communities with high denominability of the forests due to the absence of herbaceous species in the foraminous.