Phytosociology of Khybus Protected Area

The aim of this study was to recognize plant communities of Box trees (Buxus hyrcana Pojark.) in the Khybus Protected Area, middle part of Hyrcanian forests in north of Iran. Vegetation releves, 64 numbers, were made at peak vegetation cover during last summer by systematic- selective method in 200 and 400 meter grid dimensions by consideration indicator stands concept. By using Braun- Blanquet traditional tabular method six distinct plant communities including four associations: Laurocerasus officinali- Fagetum orientalis, Rusco hyrcani- Fagetum orientalis, Buxus Hyrcani- Fagetum orientalis and Tilia Platyphyli- Buxetum hyrcana with two subasociations: Buxus Hyrcani- Fagetum orientalis parrotioetosum persica and Buxus Hyrcani- Fagetum orientalis aceretosum velutinum were classified. By using two way indicator species analysis, TWINSPAN, six plant communities were recognized. Braun- Blanquet traditional tabular method and TWINSPAN fitness were estimated 98.4 % based on similar membership of relves in each plant community. Superimposed plant communities onto the two first DCA axes, which represent 33% of total variances in whole of floristic data, showed that each plant community has its own range and rather clear bordeline. Totally results of this study not only describe plant communities of khybus protected area as a climax model of Hyrcanian mountainous forests for the first time but also confirmed that the tabular subjective Braun- Blanquet method despite the development of numerical methods in multivariate classification of vegetation, can be used as an efficient method of separation and classification of forest sites.