A Preliminary Survey of Flora, Life form and Chorotype of Plants of the Booz Daghi Region in North Khorassan Province

The Booz Daghi region, encompassing an area of 62,000 hectares, is situated 47 kilometers from Maneh and Semelghan city. This study explored the floristic composition, biological, and chorological spectra of the area through numerous random collections in various habitats and vegetation types, and from 220 plots established in selected plant communities during the growing season of 2021. A total of 252 vascular plant species, belonging to 173 genera and 53 families, were recorded as native to the Booz Daghi region. The most diverse families were Asteraceae (31 species), Poaceae (25 species), Lamiaceae (22 species), and Fabaceae (21 species). The genera Astragalus L. (10 species), Allium L., Convolvulus L., and Stachys L. (each with 5 species) were among the richest. Hemicryptophytes (31.3%) and therophytes (29.8%) emerged as the dominant life forms in the region. A significant number of species (63.5%) were identified as belonging to the Irano-Turanian region. The findings of this study indicate that the Booz Daghi region possesses a relatively rich flora, necessitating special attention and proper planning for the conservation of its biodiversity. Introduction Due to the accelerated destruction of various ecosystems and its adverse effects on biodiversity reduction in recent decades, researchers have increasingly focused on conservation issues. Recognizing that the first step towards effective and efficient protection of any resource is having accurate and comprehensive information, floristic studies offer valuable insights into the types of plants and their general biological and vegetative characteristics in different regions. The climatic and environmental diversity of Iran has led to a rich flora and varied vegetation across its regions. The Booz Daghi region in North Khorasan province is one of the areas that has not yet been thoroughly studied in terms of floristic characteristics. This study was conducted to investigate the flora and geographical distribution of plants in this region. The findings of this study can provide valuable information for managers and decision-makers in the field of existing plant reserves and in planning for the conservation of these resources. Materials and Methods Approximately 500 plant samples were randomly collected from different habitats and vegetation types, including some collected from 220 plots of 100 m² each, located in selected plant communities during the growing season of 2021. The plant samples were identi