Distribution patterns and priorities for conservation of Iranian Endemic Monocots: determining the Areas of Endemism (AOEs)

Iranian endemic monocotyledons include 152 species belonging to 35 genera of 10 plant families and comprise about 2.08% of Iranian plant flora and approximately 6.9% of Iran s endemic flora. Amaryllidaceae, with 71 species, is the largest family of endemic monocots in Iran. Endemic species were categorized based on topographic zonations including basins (less than 300 m a.s.l.), lowlands (300–1000 m a.s.l.), semi-mountainous (1000–1500 m a.s.l.), mountainous (1500–2500 m a.s.l.), alpine (2500–3500 m a.s.l.), and subnivale (3500–4500 m a.s.l.). Iranian endemic monocots included critically endangered (CR): 60% (89 spp), endangered (EN): 17% (26 spp.), near threatened (NT): 12% (18 spp), vulnerable (VU): 8% (12 spp), and the least concern (LC): 3% (4 spp.). Besides, the Kurdistan–Zagros range and the Atropatenian phytogeographical units feature the highest numbers of critically endangered taxa and form the first class in conservation value and priority. This will aid in management planning, in situ and ex situ conservation, and modeling habitat suitability for rehabilitation and restoration plans.