Medicinal plants of Sulduz region, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran and their characteristics

Plato of Iran is very rich in terms of medicinal plant diversity. Sulduz (Naghadeh) region (36:57° E, 45:22 N), West Azerbaijan Province, Iran, occupies an region of over 1050 km2, which is more than 2.5 percent of the total region of West Azerbaijan province. The altitude of region is between 1000-2100 m. The systematic study of flora especially in virgin regions has its own special challenges and excitement. Commercial collection and trade represents principle threat to individual species. The present research is concerned with the medically used plants species investigation of Sulduz region. The study aimed to find the diversity of medicinal plants in the region. Plant specimens were collected 100 times during 2009-2011 and were prepared for identification according to methods used in systematic studies. The study helped to identify 267 medicinal plants species belonging to 187 genus and 74 families. After identification the specimens were also studied for life form