Ecological Characteristics of Camphorosma monspeliaca in Doto-Tangsayad Habitat, Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province (Iran)

Camphorosma monspeliaca is one of the rare species in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province with a distribution of 3500 ha in Doto-Tangsayad. In the current study, distribution of Camphorosma monspeliaca in the province, vegetation and companion species, phenology and relationship between plant and environmental factors were studied to investigate some ecological characteristics. Although Camphorosma monspeliaca has a large distribution in the studied area, the best distribution pattern was seen in southern and northern aspects as dominant or companion species. Camphorosma monspeliaca is companion with other species in different aspects. According to the results, average of plant parameters differed in different aspects as the most canopy cover and density of Camphorosma monspeliaca were recorded in southern aspect. In view of forage quality, protein content and digestibility of the mentioned species are high. Camphorosma monspeliaca can be established in none saline soils (Ec < 2dsm-1) and alkali soils (7.5<pH<8.5) with a soil texture of clay, clay loam, loam and calcareous soils (20-30%) having a low content of organic matter and gypsum. Among studied elements C, N, Ca and Mg were much higher in the soil under Camphorosma monspeliaca vegetation due to the need of range species and easy access to these elements. In comparison to K and P, Na was higher in Camphorosma monspeliaca because of high sodium adsorption ability in plants of Chenopodiacea with a C4 photosynthetic pathway.In general, study of the mentioned species is essential to consider its multiple uses.