Vascular flora of the Nuratau Mountains (Uzbekistan): an annotated checklist
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54981/PDCA/vol4_iss1/a2
Check for updates
Keywords:
alien species, biogeography, checklist, endemic, flora, key biodiversity areas, native species, plant diversity, threatened speciesAbstract
The Nuratau Mountains located in Uzbekistan, in the transitional zone between the Central Asian Mountain and the Turanian phytogeographical provinces, are one of the key biodiversity areas within the Mountains of Central Asia Global Biodiversity Hotspot. These medium-altitude semiarid mountains are treated as the Nuratau phytogeographical district and have been identified as a center of endemism and priority area for protection. The flora of this very peculiar large natural area has been studied for over 150 years, but a complete checklist has never been published. This paper, which provides a fairly complete synopsis of the vascular flora of the Nuratau Mountains, enumerates 1320 species from 471 genera and 86 families.
Share
Downloads
References
Adylov, T.A. (Ed.) (1983) Conspectus Florae Asiae Mediae 7. Science Publishers, Tashkent, 415 pp. [In Russian]
Adylov, T.A. (Ed.) (1987) Conspectus Florae Asiae Mediae 9. Science Publishers, Tashkent, 400 pp. [In Russian]
Adylov, T.A. & Zuckerwanik, T.I. (Eds.) (1993) Conspectus Florae Asiae Mediae 10. Science Publishers, Tashkent, 692 pp. [In Russian]
APG IV (2016) An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG IV. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 181: 1–20.
Batoshov, A.R. (2016) Flora of South-East Kyzylkum Relic Mountains. Abstract of the DSc thesis. Tashkent, 75 pp. [In Uzbek, Russian and English].
Beshko, N.Yu. (2011) Flora of vascular plants of the Nuratau nature reserve. In: Trudy Zapovednikov Uzbekistana 7: 19–78. [In Russian].
Beshko, N.Yu. (2017–2025). Flora of the Nuratau Nature Reserve. In: Plantarium: Open Online Atlas of Plants and Lichens of Russia and Adjacent Countries. Available from: https://www.plantarium.ru/page/flora/id/10 46.html (accessed 15 March 2025)
Bondarenko, O.N. & Nabiev, M.M. (Eds.) (1972) Conspectus Florae Asiae Mediae 3. Science Publishers, Tashkent, 268 pp. [In Russian]
CABI (2017) Invasive Species Compendium. CAB International, Wallingford, UK. Available from: www.cabi.org/isc (accessed 15 March 2025).
CEPF (2017) Mountains of Central Asia Biodiversity Hotspot: Ecosystem Profile. CEPF, Switzerland, 183 pp.
Christenhusz, M.J.M., Reveal, J.L., Farjon, A., Gardne,r M.F., Mill, R.R. & Chase, M.W. (2011) A new classification and linear sequence of extant gymnosperms. Phytotaxa 19: 55-70.
Conspectus Florae Asiae Mediae. In 11 vol. 1963–2015. Fan Publishers, Tashkent. [In Russian].
Demurina, E.M. (1975) Vegetation of the western part of Turkestan Range and its spurs. Fan Publishers, Tashkent, 189 pp. [In Russian].
Flora of Uzbekistan. In 6 vol. 1941–1963. Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR, Tashkent. [In Russian].
GBIF (2025) Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Facilitated by the GBIF Secretariat. Available at: https://www.gbif.org (accessed 1 March 2025).
German, D.A., Lazkov, G.A., Ziyodullaev, Q.O., Madaminov, F.M., Beshko, N.Yu., Sennikov, A.N. & Tojibaev, K.Sh. (2025) On the identity of some endemic Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) from Middle Asia. Phytotaxa 725 (1): 082–090. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.725.1.7
IPNI (2025) International Plant Names Index. Available from: http://www.ipni.org (accessed 15 March 2025).
IUCN (2012) Habitats Classification Scheme, Version 3.1. Available from: https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/habit at-classification-scheme (accessed 15 March 2025).
IUCN (2025) IUCN Red List of Threatened species. Available from: http://www.iucnredlist.org (accessed 15 March 2025).
Jung, M., Dahal, P.R., Butchart, S.H.M., Donald, P.F., De Lamo, X., Lesiv, M., Kapos, V., Rondinini, C. & Visconti, P. (2020). A global map of terrestrial habitat types. Sci. Data 7, 256. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-020-00599-
Kamelin, R.V. (1973) An Account to the Knowledge of the Flora of the Nuratavian Mountains. Botanicheskii Zhurnal (Saint- Petersburg) 58 (5): 625–637. [In Russian].
Kamelin, R.V. (1990) Flora of Syrdarya Karatau. Science Publishers, Leningrad, 184 pp. [In Russian].
Kamelin, R.V., Kovalevskaya, S.S. & Nabiev, M.M. (Eds.) (1981) Conspectus Florae Asiae Mediae 6. Science Publishers, Tashkent, 395 pp. [In Russian]
Khassanov, F.O. (Ed.) (2015) Conspectus Florae Asiae Mediae 11. Science Publishers, Tashkent, 456 pp. [In Russian]
Khassanov, F.O. (Ed.) (2019) Red Data Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Vol. 1. Plants. Tasvir Publishers, Tashkent, 356 pp. [in Uzbek, Russian and English]
Komarov, V.L. (Ed.) (1934–1964) Flora of the USSR 1–30. Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow & Leningrad. [In Russian]
Kovalevskaya, S.S. (Ed.) (1968–1971) Conspectus Florae Asiae Mediae 1–2. Science Publishers, Tashkent. [In Russian]
Kudrjashev, S.N. (1930) Vegetation of the Khobduntau and Karachatau Mountains. In: Proceedings of Central Asian State University (Tashkent), 8 (13): 1–68 [In Russian].
Kudrjashev, S.N. (Ed.) (1941) Flora of Uzbekistan 1. Uzbek Department of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Tashkent, 568 pp. [In Russian]
Kultiasow, M.V. (1923) Essay on the vegetation of the Pistalitau Mountains. In: Proceedings of the Turkestan Scientific Society. Tashkent, pp. 89–102. [In Russian].
Ma, S., Li, W., Tojibaev, K.Sh., Turginov, O., Yang, W. & Ma, K. (2024) Regionwide and nationwide floristic richness reveal vascular plant diversity in Central Asia. Plants 13, 2275. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162275
Makhkamov, T., Kortz, A., Hejda, M., Brundu, G. & Pyšek, P. (2024) Naturalized alien flora of Uzbekistan: species richness, origin and habitats. Biol Invasions 26, 2819–2830. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-024-03371- w
Mittermeier, R.A., Turner, W.R., Larsen, F.W., Brooks, T.M. & Gascon, C. (2011) Global Biodiversity Conservation: The critical role of hotspots. In: Zachos, F.E. & Habel, J.C. (Eds.) Biodiversity hotspots: Distribution and protection of conservation priority areas. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, London, pp. 3–22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20992- 5_1
Morrone, J.J. & Ebach, M.C. (2022) Toward a terrestrial biogeographical regionalisation of the world: historical notes, characterisation and area nomenclature. Australian Systematic Botany 35(3): 187– 224. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/SB22002
Myers, N., Mittermeier, R.A., Mittermeier, C. G., da Fonseca G.A.B. & Kent, J. (2000) Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature 403 (6772): 853–858. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35002501
Nabiev, M.M. (Ed.) (1986) Conspectus Florae Asiae Mediae 8. Science Publishers, Tashkent, 191 pp. [In Russian]
Ondo, I., Dhanjal‐Adams, K.L., Pironon, S., Silvestro, D., Colli‐Silva, M., Deklerck, V., Grace, O.M., Monro, A.K., Nicolson, N., Walker, B. & Anonelli, A. (2024) Plant diversity darkspots for global collection priorities. New Phytologist 244 (2): 719– 733. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.20024
Pakhomova, M.G. (Ed.) (1974–1976) Conspectus Florae Asiae Mediae 4–5. Science Publishers, Tashkent. [In Russian]
Plantarium (2007–2025) Plants and lichens of Russia and neighboring countries: open online galleries and plant identification guide. Available from: https://www.plantarium.ru/lang/en.html (accessed 15 March 2025).
POWO (2025) Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org/ (accessed 15 March 2025).
PPG I (2016) A community-derived classification for extant lycophytes and ferns. Journal of
Sennikov, A.N. (Ed.) (2016) Flora of Uzbekistan, vol. 1. Navroʻz Publishers, Tashkent, xxviii + 173 pp. [In Russian]
Sennikov, A.N. (Ed.) (2017) Flora of Uzbekistan, vol. 2. Navroʻz Publishers, Tashkent, xii + 200 pp. [In Russian]
Sennikov, A.N. (Ed.) (2019) Flora of Uzbekistan, vol. 3. Ma’naviat Publishers, Tashkent, xii + 201 pp. [In Russian]
Sennikov, A.N. (Ed.) (2022) Flora of Uzbekistan, vol. 4. Fan Publishers, Tashkent, xviii + 238 pp. [In Russian]
Sennikov, A.N. (Ed.) (2023) Flora of Uzbekistan, vol. 5. Fan Publishers, Tashkent, xiv + 469 pp. [In Russian]
Sennikov, A.N. (Ed.) (2023) Flora of Uzbekistan, vol. 6. Ma’naviat Publishers, Tashkent, xiv + 209 pp. [In Russian]
Sennikov, A.N. & Lazkov, G.A. (2024) Alien Plants of Kyrgyzstan: The First Complete Inventory, Distributions and Main Patterns. Plants 13, 286. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13020286
Sennikov, A.N., Tojibaev, K.Sh., Khassanov, F.O. & Beshko, N.Yu. (2016) The Flora of Uzbekistan Project. Phytotaxa 282 (2): 107–118. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.282.2.2
Takhtajan, A.L. (1986) Floristic regions of the World. University of California press, Berkeley, Los Angeles, London, 522 pp.
Tojibaev, K.Sh., Beshko, N.Yu., Popov, V.A., Jang, C.G. & Chang, K.S. (2017) Botanical Geography of Uzbekistan. Korea National Arboretum, Pocheon, Republic of Korea, 250 pp.
Tojibaev, K.Sh., Beshko, N.Yu., Kodyrov, U.Kh, Batoshov, A.R. & Mirzalieva, D.U. (2018) Cadaster of the flora of Uzbekistan: Samarkand Region. Fan Publishers, Tashkent, 220 pp. [In Russian].
Tojibaev, K.Sh., Beshko, N.Yu., Shomurodov, Kh.F. & al. (2019) Cadaster of the flora of Uzbekistan: Navoi Region. Fan Publishers, Tashkent, 216 pp. [In Russian].
Tojibaev, K.Sh., Beshko, N.Yu., Esankulov, A.S., Batoshov, A.R. &Azimova D.E. (2021) Cadaster of the flora of Uzbekistan: Dzhizak region. Zamin nashr Publishers, Tashkent, 368 pp. [In Russian]
Vvedensky, A.I. (Ed.) (1953–1962) Flora of Uzbekistan 2–6. Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR, Tashkent. [In Russian]
Volis, S. & Beshko, N. (2023) How to preserve narrow endemics in view of climate change? The Nuratau Mountains as the case. Plant Diversity of Central Asia 2(2): 82–101. DOI: http://doi.org/10.54981/PDCA/vol2_iss2/a
Zakirov, K.Z. (1955) Flora and vegetation of the Zeravschan river basin. Vol. 1. Fan Publishers, Tashkent, 205 p. [In Russian].
Zakirov, K.Z. (1961) Flora and vegetation of the Zeravschan river basin. Vol. 2. Fan Publishers, Tashkent, 446 pp. [In Russian].
Zakirov, P.K. (1969) Vegetation cover of the Nuratau Mountains. Fan Publishers, Tashkent, 142 pp. [In Russian].
Zakirov, P. K. (1971) Botanical geography of low mountains of Kyzylkum and Nuratau Range. Fan Publishers, Tashkent, 203 pp. [In Russian].
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. Authors retain copyright.
