Ecological and Phenological Study on Ferulago angulata in the Hezar Mountains and Bondar Henza, Kerman, Iran

In order to study of ecological and phenological traits of Ferulago angulata asan important medicinal plant, this research was conducted in Hezar Mountains andBondareh Henza in Kerman province, Iran. Random samples of this plant were taken andtheir vegetation habitat conditions and their growth characteristics including height ofcollar leaves, height of flower stem, flower stem number and forage production wererecorded and categorized. Physical and chemical soil characteristics (soil texture, acidity,soil Electrical Conductivity (EC), absorbable phosphorus and potassium, and the percent oforganic carbon) were examined by monthly interval at a soil depth of 30 cm from March toSeptember. All characteristics were analyzed using factorial experiment with two factors ofsites and months. Results showed that this species grow quite satisfactorily in the foothillselevation of 2750 m to 3540 m above sea level as long as it received more than 200 mmannual precipitation. The soil EC was less than 1 ds/m and acidity was ranged from 7.5 to7.8. Canopy cover in Henza and Babzangi were 15.7% and 6.1%, respectively. Resultsshowed that growth indices as height of collar leaves and forage production were high atthe Babzangi sites, while the height of flower stem was important in Henza. Forphenological process, the results indicated that plant germination started from the end ofMarch-April and continued to the end of summer; flowering started from May-June;seeding completed in June-July and dried out completely by end of summer. Moreover inwinter, the plants were dormant.