Investigation of Flora, Life Forms and Geographical Distribution of plants in Southern Marginal of Damghan Desert

Identification of vegetation and study of geographical distribution of plants in each region is the basis of ecological studies and researches in that area. The purpose of this study was to introduce the flora, life form and geographical distribution of plants in the desert area in the southern of Damghan desert. At first, plant species of this region were collected and identified using available scientific resources. Then scientific name, family name, vegetative form, life form and chorotype of each species were determined using available sources. A total of 53 plant species belonged to 18 plant families were identified in the southern margins of Damghan desert. Amaranthaceae was the largest plant family with 17 plant species and consisted of 32.08% followed by Asteraceae and Fabaceae with 15.09% and 7.55% respectively. The results showed that according to the rankings based on Raunkiaer classification system, therophyte plants with 16 plant species 30.19% were the dominant life form in the study area, followed by chamaephyte plants 28.30% and hemicryptophytes 24.53%. The results of geographical distribution of plants showed that the Irano-Turanian elements with 36 species 67.92% was the largest proportion of the chorological elements in this area, indicating the existence of arid and semi-arid climates in this area.