The conservation status of Thymbra spicata L. in Iran

Document Type : Rare and Endangered Plant Species of Iran

Authors

1 Lorestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Khorramabad, Iran.

2 Elite Foundation of Ilam Province, Ilam, Iran.

3 Division of Botany, Institude of forest and rangelands, AREEO Tehran, Iran

4 Associate Prof., Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Kermanshah Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, (AREEO), Kermanshah, Iran.

10.22092/irn.2025.366407.1596

Abstract

Thymbra spicata L. (Lamiaceae) is a small evergreen shrub, woody at the base, and 10 to 50 cm high, found in the tropical regions of Kermanshah, Ilam, and Lorestan provinces in Iran. To assess its conservation status, we employed IUCN Red List Criteria and Categories. Field surveys and plot sampling revealed an Area of Occupancy (AOO) of 44 km² within an Extent of Occurrence (EOO) of 10,882 km². Based on the AOO, population size, regeneration primarily through seeds, and habitat quality, the conservation status of T. spicata in Iran is assessed as Endangered (EN). Field observations indicate that lack of proper management and excessive exploitation are the primary threats to this rare species. We recommend the following conservation measures: Designation of protected habitats by the Forests, Rangeland and Watershed Management Organization, and Ex-situ conservation in botanical gardens and the Plant Natural Resources Gene Bank.

Keywords

References

- Bachman, S., Moat, J., Hill, W., De torre, J., A. and Scott, B., 2011. Supporting Red List threat assessments with GeoCAT: geospatial conservation assessment tool. In: Smith, V. and Penev, L. (Eds). e- infrastructures for data publishing in biodiversity science. ZooKeys, 150: 117–126.
- Grigorieva, E.A., Matzarakis, A. and de Freitas, C.R., 2010. Analysis of the growing degree days as a climate impact indicator in a region with extreme annual air temperature amplitude. Climate Research, 42: 143–154.
- IUCN, 2017. Guidelines for using the IUCN red list categories and criteria ver. 13. Prepared by the standards and petitions subcommittee, 108p.
- Jalili, A. and Jamzad. Z., 1999. Red Data Book of Iran; A Preliminary Survey of Endemic, Rare & Endangered Plant Species in Iran, Research Institute of Forest & Rangelands. Research institute forest & rangelands Press, Tehran, 748p.
- Ranade, S.A., Rana, T. S. and Narzary, D., 2009. SPAR profiles and genetic diversity amongst pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) genotypes. Physiology and molecular biology of plants, 15: 61–70.‏
Iran Nature
Volume 9, Issue 5 - Serial Number 48
November and December 2024
Pages 119-126

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics