University of Isfahan Taxonomy and Biosystematics 3115-9001 14 53 2023 01 21 Investigating the Flora, Life Form, Chorology, and Conservation Classes of Plants in Garin Mountain, Delfan County- Lorestan Province معرفی فلور، شکل زیستی، پراکنش جغرافیایی و طبقۀ حفاظتی گیاهان کوه گرین، شهرستان دلفان - استان لرستان 49 76 27607 10.22108/tbj.2023.136491.1224 EN Amir Mairzaei Mossivand Assistant Professor, Department of Range and Watershed, Faculty of Natural Resources, Lorestan University, Lorestan, Iran. Journal Article 2023 01 17 This study aimed to investigate the flora, life forms, chorology, and endemic plants along with their conservation status in the Garin Mountains, Delfan County, Lorestan Province. Initially, plant samples observed in the area during the growing season were collected. Based on common methods of plant taxonomy, the family, genus, and species of each sample were determined. Subsequently, the conservation statuses of the plants in the region were examined, following the classification of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Red Data Book of Iran. The results indicated 212 species belonging to 150 genera and 46 families. The largest families, in terms of the number of species, were Asteraceae with 34 species (16.04%), Lamiaceae with 30 species (14.15%), Poaceae with 29 species (13.68%), Brassicaceae with 22 species (10.38%), Fabaceae with 19 species (8.96%), and Apiaceae with 10 species (4.72%). The life forms of the plants, determined based on Raunkiaer’s classification, included hemicryptophytes (42.92%), therophytes (35.85%), geophytes (10.85%), phanerophytes (5.66%), and chamaephytes (4.72%). In terms of geographical distribution, 51% of the species were Iran-Turanian elements. Upon reviewing the rare, endemic species of Iran in the region, two conservation classes were identified: Lower Risk (LR) with 14 species and Endangered (En) with one species. Introduction The flora of each region is essentially a result of the biological community's response to current conditions, as well as the evolution of plants in past periods and the geographical situation of those times. Considering the crucial role of plant identification and its undeniable importance in biological sciences, understanding the capacity of the environment, utilizing it as rationally as possible, and improving it, the scientific identification of plants in each field has become fundamentally important, both for research and practical applications. Furthermore, the identification of vegetation and the study of the geographical distribution of plants in a region form the basis of ecological studies and research in that area, playing a significant role in implementing proper management strategies. This research was conducted for the first time on the northern slopes of the Graen Mountain in Delfan city. One of its primary objectives was to accurately identify and evaluate the plants of the region, their life forms, geographical distribution, and introduce Iran's exclusive plants in the region along with their conservation classes. Materials and Methods Delfan County is located in the northwest of Lorestan province. The maximum elevation of the studied area is 3,362 meters, and the minimum elevation is 1,924 meters above sea level. The average annual rainfall in Delfan is about 490 mm, and the average annual temperature is 11.8°C. Plant samples were collected and identified over two vegetative periods. The plants in the area were collected and identified based on reliable sources and the APG IV system (2016), and then deposited in the herbarium of the Faculty of Natural Resources at Lorestan University. Raunkiaer's (1934) was used to determine their life forms. Additionally, the Red Data Book of Iran and some authoritative articles were consulted to evaluate endangered species. Moreover, the chorotype of the species was identified according to their distribution areas in Iran and other countries, and the compilation of the geographical divisions of Iranian vegetation by Takhtajan (1986), Zohary (1973), and Assadi (1986-2020). Research Findings In this study, 212 plant species from 150 genera and 46 families were identified in the studied area. The most significant families in the region included Asteraceae with 34 species (16.04%), Lamiaceae with 30 species (14.15%), Poaceae with 29 species (13.68%), Brassicaceae with 22 species (10.38%), Fabaceae with 19 species (8.96%), and Apiaceae with 10 species (4.72%). The results indicated that in terms of life forms (germination and wintering position), hemicryptophytes, with 91 species (42.92%), are the predominant life forms in the studied area. Geographically, 51% of the species belonged to the Iran-Turanian elements. Upon reviewing the rare endemic species of Iran in the region, two conservation classes were identified: Lower Risk (LR) with 14 species and Endangered (En) with one species. Discussion of Results and Conclusion The dominance of plants from the Asteraceae family in the region may be attributed to environmental disturbances. The biological spectrum of plant species and the percentage of each life form present can provide insights into the region's climate. The abundance of hemicryptophyte plants suggests a cold and mountainous climate. Given the mountainous terrain and the cold climate of the studied area, this prevalence of hemicryptophytes can be seen as an adaptation to the cold conditions and livestock grazing. The geographical distribution of the complete set of plant species in a region reflects the influence of various vegetation areas. This study found that the majority of the regional vegetation elements identified (51%) are characteristic of the Irano-Turanian region. The elevation range between 2,000 and 2,500 meters supports the dominance of Irano-Turanian traits, suggesting that altitude is a key factor in the prevalence of these traits in the studied area. The presence of rare and endangered species underscores the extent of environmental degradation in the area. Since effective environmental planning for any region requires a comprehensive understanding of its vegetation and species diversity, the study of plants is crucial not only in terms of their natural characteristics but also as modifiers of human living conditions, especially in development planning and construction projects.

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