Flora of Mtirala National Park

The area is represented by the world specific Colchis type plants rich in well preserved and totally original tertiary relicts. The park is considerably sizable and is situated over the territory of three municipalities : Kobuleti, Khelvachauri and Keda. Total area of these territories comprise 15806 ha. The vascular flora of the Mtirala National Park (Georgia, Ajara) was studied between 1997 and 2007. At present 593 species of 308 genera and 100 families have been registered in the Park, including: Herbaceous - 495 ; Fern – 15; Liana - 5; Trees – 28; Bushes – 35; Shrubs – 15 species. Of the 593 taxa, 30 Pteridophytes and 563 Spermatophytes were detected. Spermatophytes also contained 1 Gymnospermae and 562 Angiospermae taxa. The richest 3 families are Compositae with 86 taxa (14.5%), Gramineae with 68 taxa (11.4%), and Leguminosae with 37 taxa (6.2%). The richest genera are Carex (13) , Veronica (9), Cirsium, Rubus, Hypericum (8 taxa). The endemism ratio is 66 species (11,1 %) from the total floristic composition of the National Park are endemic ones, including:Caucasian – 26 ; Georgian – 7 ; Colchis - 25 ; Ajara-Lazeti – 6 ; Ajara – 2 . Threat categories were proposed for 11 taxa according to International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List Categories.