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Ghorkhod Protected Area (GPA) is located in a transitional zone among different biogeographical units in North Khorassan Province, NE Iran. The study area is mainly a mountainous region in western extensions of Khorassan-Kopet Dagh floristic province. We investigated the floristic composition, life form spectrum and phytogeography of the study area through several random collection efforts and 200 vegetation samples (reléves) in selected vegetation types during 2007–2012. A total of 663 vascular plant species belonging to 367 genera and 81 families are recorded as native and naturalized in GPA. Angiosperms and Dicots are among the most diverse plant groups. The richest plant families are Asteraceae (88 species), Poaceae (78), Lamiaceae (45), Brassicaceae (43), Fabaceae (38), and Caryophyllaceae (32). The genera Allium L. (17 species), Astragalus L. (15) and Cousinia Cass. (12) are the richest ones, however, the majority of the species belongs to oligotypic and monotypic genera. Life form spectrum of the study area is dominated by hemicryptophytes (38.9%) and therophytes (23.4%). Allium transvestiens Vved., Agropyron desertorum Schult., Helictotrichon turcomanicum Czopanov and Piptatherum latifolium (Roshev.) Nevski are recorded as new to Iran. The core flora of the area has the Irano-Turanian origin. However, the wide-range and widespread elements are also well represented in the study area. GPA is inhabited by several endemic, rare and narrow-range plant species, indicating the biodiversity importance of the study area in NE Iran.

Khorassan-Kopet Dagh (KK) floristic province located in northeastern Iran and southern Turkmenistan is one of the important centers of plant endemism in Irano-Turanian region. In order to evaluate the plant endemism, distribution and conservation, we generated an updated and annotated checklist of 356 endemic vascular plant taxa belonging to 112 genera and 36 families of angiosperms. The genera Astragalus and Cousinia have the highest number of endemics and the hemicryptophytes are the dominant life form. On the basis of the available distributional data, mainly from herbarium records and reliable references, we analyzed the distribution patterns and diversity of the endemic taxa. The central part of KK has the highest endemic richness, and the least number of endemics occur in the southern part. Mapping the occurrence data of the endemics revealed 16 main distribution patterns. There are only 24 widespread endemics, and more than half of the endemic taxa are restricted to only one of five geographical zones of the area. Analysis of endemic diversity based on 15ʹ grid cell maps showed that the Central part of Kopet Dagh range, Aladagh and Salook ranges and Golestan National Park are located in the areas with the highest endemic richness. Mapping the beta diversity of the grid cells revealed the vast areas of the Central part, following some areas of the Eastern, Western and Northwestern parts, are highly differentiated by composition of endemic plants. All of the KK endemic taxa were evaluated against the IUCN Red List categories and criteria and a total of 200 endemic taxa were globally classified as threatened including 24 Critically Endangered, 72 Endangered and 104 Vulnerable taxa. Areas with the highest threatened endemics richness are located in Central Kopet Dagh range along Iran-Turkmenistan border, Golestan National Park and adjacent Ghorkhod Protected area, Aladagh and Salook ranges, and the eastern part of Binalood range. Implications of the results in conservation prioritization of the endemic taxa and also of the geographical areas are discussed. As far as possible the taxonomic status of known endemics are critically checked, type specimens of some doubtful taxa are consulted, and representative vouchers of reported species are given. The new species Heliotropium khayyamii Akhani sp. nov. is described and seven taxa are placed as new synonyms: Astragalus salehabadensis Ranjbar & Zarin (= A. basineri Trautv.), A. torbathaydariyehensis Ranjbar & Zarin (= A. basineri ), Astragalus ghouchanensis Souzani, Zarre & Maassoumi (= A. sumbari Popov), Cousinia golestanica Attar (= C. stahliana Bornm. & Gauba), Centaurea bojnordensis Ranjbar, Negaresh & Joharchi (= C. sintenisiana Gand.), Cyanus persicus Ranjbar & Negaresh (= C. depressus (M. Bieb.) Sojak) and Klasea nana Ranjbar & Negaresh (= K. latifolia (Boiss.) L.Martins). Twenty-five taxa with poor taxonomic evidence are listed separately as doubtful. Distribution maps of almost all known endemics are provided.

A new species from southwest of Bojnord, NE of Iran is described and illustrated here as Dianthus pseudocrinitus (Caryophyllaceae). This species is morphologically similar to D. crinitus subsp. turcomanicus, but can be distinguished from the latter by bract number, width of lower and upper leaves, margin of thickness of outermost bracts, length of calyx, length and width of anther, branches of stem, type of sheath of lower leaf, and tip shape of petal fimbria. The new species is also similar to D. orientalis subsp. stenocalyx in terms of floral characters, but they differ by several non- overlapping morphological characters. Results obtained from the morphological data are consistent with those obtained from the molecular phylogenetic trees based on sequences of the two copies of DFR1 gene, confirming phylogenetic affinity of the new species to D. crinitus subsp. turcomanicus.

The new species Acanthophyllum yasamin-nassehiae (Caryophyllaceae) from North Khorassan province (north-eastern Iran) is here described and illustrated. It belongs to the sect. Oligosperma, and it is related to A. lilacinum and A. brevibracteatum from the morphological point of view. Notes on its ecology and conservation status are given.

Allium aladaghense is described as a new species from North Khorassan province in NE Iran. It is closely related to A. kuhsorkhense , another recently described endemic species. Diagnostic morphological characters, illustrations and notes on habitats and conservation of the new species as well as an identification key and distribution maps of the species of sect. Asteroprason are provided.