The flora and vegetation of Soffeh Mountain in the south of Isfahan

The Zagros Mountain chains are the longest mountain range in Iran, and its large and small mountains are valuable in terms of species richness and percentage of endemic species. Soffeh Mountain is considered one of the isolated mountains parallel with this large mountain chain, located south of Isfahan city. Due to the special conditions and being located within the city and having tourist attractions, this mountain is frequently visited by tourists and mountaineers. Soffeh Mountain is one of the rich vegetation centers of Isfahan and has been explored by many famous botanists of the world and is of historical importance from the botanical point of view. The vegetation of Soffeh includes both wild and cultivated species. The main vegetation type in this mountain is Artemisia sieberi-Stipa hohenackeriana-Acantholimon scorpius. The Soffeh Mountain inhabits many plant species, of which some endemic species are included. Human activities such as building hotels, creating tourism facilities, and building various roads for mountaineers and visitors have put them in an unstable situation. Therefore, the protection of Soffeh Mountain and its valuable species, as well as floristic and vegetation studies of this mountain, are essential.