Abstract
The Yazd–Kerman massifs include the poorly known highlands of central and southern Iran reaching to 4465 m a.s.l. at the highest peak. This area belongs to the Irano–Turanian phytogeographical region and 68% of the flora belongs to this floristic region. Total flora of the area is composed of 1308 vascular plant species of which 8% are endemics. The richest genera in terms of endemic species are Astragalus (21 species), Acantholimon (13), Cousinia (8), Echinops (8) and Nepeta (7). Hemicryptophytes (36%) and therophytes (32%) are the most dominant life forms. Several vegetation types are distinguishable in various habitats including halophytic vegetation, Stipa-Artemisia steppes, psammophytic vegetation, shrublands and woodlands, Rheum ribes vegetation, wetland communities, rocky cliff vegetation, subalpine umbelliferous communities and alpine–subnival communities. The protected areas hardly correlate with the biodiversity hotspots in the region and therefore many species are threatened.
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Abbreviations
- ES:
-
Euro-Siberian
- IT:
-
Irano-Turanian
- M:
-
Mediterranean
- SS:
-
Saharo-Sindian
- YK:
-
Yazd-Kerman
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Doostmohammadi, M., Talebi, A., Noroozi, J. (2020). The Yazd–Kerman Massifs. In: Noroozi, J. (eds) Plant Biogeography and Vegetation of High Mountains of Central and South-West Asia. Plant and Vegetation, vol 17. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45212-4_5
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