Included here is the Anatolian Plateau east of the ‘Anatolian Diagonal’, the Armenian Highlands, most of Iran and part of Afghanistan.

Armeno-Iranian Calligonum-Stipagrostis Desert

Large areas of mobile dunes in the Persian Desert and in parts of the Afghan Desert are characterized by species of Calligonum, especially C. comosum, and Stipagrostis such as S. pennata, but several other species of Calligonum may be present such as C. amoenum, C. intertextum, C. microcarpum, C. persicum and C. turkestanicum. However, many of these desert areas are largely bare sand with percentage cover of vegetation ranging from 1-10%, but in some of the more stable areas it may be up to 25%. Other perennial species include Eremostachys regeliana, Pennisetum divisum and Stipagrostis karelinii; while among the many annuals are Agriophyllum minus, Euphorbia cheirolepis, Cithareloma lehmanii, Diplotaxis harra, Isatis minima, Spirorhynchus sabulosus and the two endemic species Sameraria elegans and Sterigmostemum acanthocarpum (Brassicaceae).

References

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