An overview of plant diversity of Kazdagi (Mt. Ida) Forest National Park, Turkey.

ABSTRACT

Kazdagi (Mt. Ida) forms the natural border between the provinces of Canakkale and Balikesir in northwestern Turkey. The highest peak (Karatas Hill) of this mountain is 1774 m. Kazdagi was declared a National Park in 1994 because of its rich plant cover. Its importance is mainly derived from the presence of a restricted zone of Abies nordmanniana ssp. equi-trojani forest as well as for its natural beauty and appearance in classical mythology. There are three vegetation types on Kazdagi, viz. forest vegetation, shrub vegetation and high mountain vegetation. There are 800 plant taxa recorded on Kazdagi. 198 of them are of particular ethnobotanical significance for this mountain. Kazdagi is accepted as one of the most important floristic areas of Turkey.