Floristic studies and ecology of cypress communities (Cupressus sempervirens L.) in Hyrcanian chorion, north of Iran

Cupressus sempervirens L. is the only native Cupressus in Iran. Basically, the placement of real Mediterranean Forests in the Euro-Siberian vegetation is not expected although its presence in Hyrcanian areas is valuable. In this study; floristic composition, life forms, and chorological spectrum in habitats were analyzed. A total of 700 species belonging to 386 genera from 87 families were recorded. Fabaceae (75), Asteraceae (72), Poaceae (71), and Lamiaceae (46), comprise the largest number of species. 81 species of trees and shrubs grow along with cypress in these areas. Among the recorded life forms, therophytes with 273 species, and hemicryptophytes with 224 species were dominant. More than 85% of the species have at least one Mediterranean or western Iran-Turanian chorotype, which shows a close relationship between cypress growing areas in Iran and the main Mediterranean areas. A total number of 59 species were endemic to Iran. Of these, 31 species (52%) are common with the Irano-Turanian region, 26 species (44%) with the Hyrcanian province, and 2 species (4%) with the Mediterranean region. The results were compared to other studies in the other areas where the cypress does not grow and the cypress grows but outside the Hyrcanian range (Firoozabad, Fars). Our goal is to do a complete floristic and vegetation study in common cypress habitats in Hyrcanian chorion that had imperfections of data. Although these habitats are located within the Hyrcanian chorion, results revealed the floristic composition is not similar to that of the typical Hyrcanian habitats.