HABITAT CONDITIONS OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MEDICINAL PLANTS FROM LAMIACEAE FAMILY IN MAZANDARAN PROVINCE

Abstract

The production and proper utilization of medicinal plants in natural habitats need to review and identify the natural conditions and climate of the habitat of these plants and separating them from harmful and poisonous plants. The current study was aimed to introduce and determine the distribution of medicinal plants from Lamiaceae family in Mazandaran province as well as the introduction of natural habitats in order to provide information for executive agencies and administrators of land use plan to be used for optimal utilization of potentials of natural resources. In this study, after collecting the documents, the aromatic and medicinal species (wild species) of Mazandaran province were identified and their distribution was investigated. According to the obtained results, the medicinal species of Lamiaceae family in Mazandaran province contain 23 species, belonging to 11 genera among which Stachys spp. with seven species is known as the riches genus in Lamiaceae family, distributed in an area of 16322 km2 in Mazandaran province. As a result of this study, the distributionmap of natural habitats, habitat conditions, life form, and utilizable organs of medicinal species belonging to Lamiaceae family in Mazandaran province have been provided. According to the rich flora of Mazandaran province, the results of this study could help in financing, planning, cultivation and production of medicinal plants at industrial levels. In addition, the production of herbal medicines could be used in pharmaceutical, medical and food industries.