An Introduction of Flora and Phytogeographical Elements of Khanchay Watershed in Tarome-olya of Zandjan

The Khan-chay watershed in Tarome-olya of Zandjan province with an area of 20243 hectares is
located in the north of Zandjan. The lowest and highest altitudes range from 400 to 2763 meters
above sea level. The mean annual precipitation varies from 700mm at the top of the mountains to
200mm in Ghezel-uzan river area.
For a floristic study of the area plant spacimens were collected and identified. The life forms as well
as geographical distribiutions of the species were determined. Flora in this region include 57
families, 195 genera and 310 species. The larger families are Compositae (45 species), Papilionaceae
(37 species), Graminae (34 species), Labiatae(25 species) and Rosaceae (20 species) , respectivly.
One hundred and eighty nine species are new records for the flora of Khanchay.
Life forms include Hemicryptophytes (56.8%), Therophytes (12.6%), Chamaephytes (11.6%),
Phanaerophytes (11%), Crytophytes (7.7%) and one semiparasite specimen. Phytogeographical
elements in this region were determined as: 71/3% Irano-Turanian, 8/7% Irano-Turanian and EuroSiberian,
5/5% Irano-Turanian and Mediterranean, 4/5% Irano-Turanian, Mediterranean and EuroSiberian,
3% Cosmopolite, 1/6% Irano-Turanian, Mediterranean and Saharao-Sindian, l/3% Eurosiberian
and /3% Irano-Turanian and Saharao-Sidian.