ORNAMENTAL PLANTS IN THEIR NATURAL HABITATS
B. Azerbaijan
To the west of the Lagodekhi the Zakataly Reserve covers aproximately
20,000 hectares (about 49,380 acres) area. It is within easy reach of Baku
and Tbilisi. The flora of both reserves are very similar and share most
of their woody species. They differ mainly in terrain with Zakataly often
being more inaccessible. Zakataly’s lower boundary at 600 m (1,960 ft),
coincides with the lower altitudinal limit of the mid-alpine belt of beech
forest. On southern and southeastern slopes, the forest consists mainly of
oak Quercus iberica, mixed with hornbeam Carpinus orientalis
and yew Taxus baccata. Shrubby rhododendrons and profusely growing
herbs give the forest a park-like appearance. Cranesbills Geranium
platypetalum and G. ibericum abound in the subalpine meadows,
while Bishop’s wort Stachys macrantha, anemone Anemonastrum
fasciculatum and false hellebore Veratrum lobelianum are prolific
in the higher mountain grasslands. False hellebore is a tall
(100-180 cm/3.2-5.9 ft) perennial, with leaves 60-70 cm (2-2.3 ft) long
and 20-30 cm (0.6-1.0 ft) wide. It is an attractive plant, but the
rhizomatous rootstock is very poisonous. Primula juliae often grows
on damp rocks and another primrose with pale yellow flowers Primula
ruprechtii thrives at the edges of melting snowdrifts. Swertia
iberica with its pale yellow or pale blue flowers, is seen at its
abundant best in alpine carpets. Mounded beds of members of the pink
(carnation) family, such as
Dianthus caucaseus and Gypsophila tenuifolia, are found
on rocks in the alpine and subalpine belts of these reserves. The giant
hogweed Heracleum (mostly H. sosnowskyi) should be mentioned
here, because it is so widespread among the many species of subalpine herb
vegetation.
Part of Azerbijan in the southeastern Transcaucasus belongs to the
Irano-Turanian Floristic Region, according to Takhtajan, and consists
of several provinces. These include the Lenkoran Lowland, the mountainous,
forested Talysh in the Hyrcanian Province, the arid Zuvand in the
Armeno-Iranian Province, as well as the Diabar depression, part of Zuvand,
in the Atropatenian Subprovince.
South of the city of Baku, the capital of Azerbijan, are the Lenkoran
Lowlands and Talysh, and the latter especially merits botanical exploration.
From Baku to Lenkoran the distance by road is about 250 km (155 mi). The
road first crosses semi-desert and then the Shirvan steppe, before
continuing into the Kura watershed. The Lenkoran Lowlands form a sloping
plain to the Caspian sea coast. Until comparatively recently these
lowland slopes were covered by forest, which now exists only in a reserve.
The Talysh Mountains have become "wooded islands" but conifers are usually
absent from these montane forests. The Lerik road leads from Lenkoran to
the Talysh through the Lenkoran-Tshay River valley. Oak (Quercus
castaneifolia) forest dominates the lower slopes with these lofty trees
bearing large, greyish-green leaves. Other woodland species include
hornbeam Carpinus orientalis, silk tree Albizia julibrissin,
fig Ficus carica, honey locust Gleditsia caspia and pomegranate
Punica granatum. Persian ironwood Parrotia persica, a member
of a monotypic genus, endemic to Talysh and the northern Iran, also grows
here, and when it forms a nearly pure stand, the overall impression is of
an enchanted forest, trunks and branches fusing and growing together,
lichens hanging from the branches, and the forest floor covered with dead
leaves. Heavy shade dominates the floor of these tall forests and
undergrowth is almost absent. In autumn, a spectacular display is created
by the color change of its foliage, as the ironwood's yellow leaves become
faintly tinged with lilac. The Talysh forests have been called "Hyrcanian"
by botanists as an indication of their age (Grossheim, 1960). The Hyrcanian
Sea filled an ancient large basin and was the predecessor of today’s smaller
Caspian Sea. However, the Talysh mountains were never submerged, and this
is why the endemic Parrotia persica and relictual Quercus
castaneifolia and Danae racemosa (Alexandrian laurel) have
persisted here since the early Tertiary period.
The Talysh herbaceous endemics are of considerable horticultural interest
because of their highly attractive nature. The most impressive perennials
are the large-flowered Iridodictyum hyrcanum [=Iris hyrcana], a
fragrant and showy white-flowered lily
Lilium ledebourii and a large, dark, vine-brown-flowered
fritillary Fritillaria grandiflora. The last was collected and
described by A. A. Grossheim, the prominent Russian, who called this fritillary
the gem of Talysh flora (Grossheim, 1960). The species is extremely rare in
nature and in cultivation. The same is true of the blue-flowered Crocus
polyanthus. More extensively distributed in Talysh are bulbous plants
of the genera Muscari, Gagea, Tulipa and Pushkinia; the last
with pale-blue flowers was named after Mussin-Pushkin, a noted Russian chemist
and mineralogist, who collected this plant in 1802. The yellow-pink-flowered
paeony Paeonia tomentosa, followed by a scarlet poppy Papaver
bracteatum are common in Talysh; their large and attractive flowers bloom
in late April and early May. Phuopsis stylosa, a herbaceous perennial
with whorled leaves, produces terminal heads of bright pink flowers. In
Talysh, this plant grows from the coastal lowlands up to the altitudinal
limits of mountain forest and is spectacular when flowering in profusion.
Because of its low rainfall, Zuvand's vegetation differs markedly from
that of rest of Talysh. Many of its plants have special peculiarities to
withstand long periods of drought. Most species of milk vetch
(Astragalus) and prickly thrift (Acantholimon) form compact
spiky cushions, while other grow only during the short, moist spring, e.g.
bulbous plants. Here, in Zuvand, species of iris and wild gladioli are of
interest. The gladioli flowers vary very much in colour, and can be bright
pink, or lilac in the mountains, or deep lilac in arid habitats (Gladiolus
atroviolaceus).
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