The mountainous area of Fereizi is located in northwestern Binalood range, Khorassan, northeast of Iran. Special climatic and geographical characteristics of the area make it a suitable habitat for various plant species. As a part of a research project on flora and vegetation of Binalood mountain range, the floristic composition of this area, life forms and chorology of vascular plants were determined with emphasis on endemism. During several collection excursions in 2005 to 2007, a total number of 484 vascular plant taxa were identified in the area belonging to 229 genera and 59 plant families. The largest plant families in the area are Asteraceae (63 species), Poaceae (51 species), Fabaceae (50 species) and Brassicaceae (43 species). Astragalus (25 species) and Allium (13 species) are the richest genera. The dominant life forms are hemicryptophytes and therophytes. The floristic composition of the area is strongly influenced by Irano-Turanian elements (56.8%). The analysis of endemism shows the area inhabited 49 subendemic taxa and 21 Iranian endemic species from which 13 species are endemic to northeast of Iran and three rare and threatened species, Ferula flabelliloba, Cousinia termei and Sisymbrium integerrimum, are local endemics to Binalood mountain ranges. Geranium charlesii is recorded as a new species for the flora of Iran.

Keywords