The Flora of Akçadağ (Van-Turkey)

Authors: OSMAN KARABACAK, LÜTFİ BEHÇET

Abstract: This paper describes a floristic study of Akçadağ. The research was carried out between 2000 and 2002. During the study period, 2650 vascular plant specimens were collected. After the identification of the specimens, the flora was determined to include 891 taxa (at specific and intraspecific ranks) belonging to 738 species, 328 genera, and 70 families. The distribution of Campanula radula Fisch. in Turkey is recorded for the first time. Thirty-five taxa were defined as new records for the B9 square. The endemism rate of the area is 7.5% based on 67 taxa. The largest families are Asteraceae (142 taxa), Brassicaceae (69 taxa), and Fabaceae (68 taxa). The largest genera are Astragalus L. (29), Ranunculus L., (18) and Silene L. (17). The phytogeographic elements represented in the study area are as follows: Irano-Turanian 316 (35.4%), Euro-Siberian 89 (9.9%), and Mediterranean 26 (2.9%). When the flora of the area is analysed according to Raunkiaer's life forms, the results are as follows: hemicryptophytes 462 (51.8%), therophytes 183 (20.5%), cryptophytes 125 (14.0%), chamaephytes 94 (10.5%), and phanerophytes 27 (3%). Descriptions of 28 species in the present study were different in terms of some characteristics from the descriptions found in the Flora of Turkey and in some cases different from the flora of neighbouring countries.

Keywords: Flora, Akçadağ, Van, Turkey

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