Ecological and Phenological Study on Ferulago angulata in the Hezar Mountains and Bondar Henza, Kerman, Iran
Authors
Abstract
In order to study of ecological and phenological traits of Ferulago angulata as
an important medicinal plant, this research was conducted in Hezar Mountains and
Bondareh Henza in Kerman province, Iran. Random samples of this plant were taken and
their vegetation habitat conditions and their growth characteristics including height of
collar leaves, height of flower stem, flower stem number and forage production were
recorded and categorized. Physical and chemical soil characteristics (soil texture, acidity,
soil Electrical Conductivity (EC), absorbable phosphorus and potassium, and the percent of
organic carbon) were examined by monthly interval at a soil depth of 30 cm from March to
September. All characteristics were analyzed using factorial experiment with two factors of
sites and months. Results showed that this species grow quite satisfactorily in the foothills
elevation of 2750 m to 3540 m above sea level as long as it received more than 200 mm
annual precipitation. The soil EC was less than 1 ds/m and acidity was ranged from 7.5 to
7.8. Canopy cover in Henza and Babzangi were 15.7% and 6.1%, respectively. Results
showed that growth indices as height of collar leaves and forage production were high at
the Babzangi sites, while the height of flower stem was important in Henza. For
phenological process, the results indicated that plant germination started from the end of
March-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 in
winter, the plants were dormant.
