Head of department on Ecobotanics and systematics of the Genetic Resources Institute of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, doctor of sciences in Biology Aydin Askerov has published a book “Azerbaijani flora”.
The book is the first fundamental work in Azerbaijani language dedicated the rich and colourful flora of Azerbaijan.
The compilation, which includes more than 900 new taxons related to 250 genuses found by botanists and determined by the author as a result of reseaches held in 1970s, has the information about previous state of flora in Karabakh before the occupation.
The book contains detailed information about 4,961 higher species related to 159 families and 1,117 genuses including 4,557 species spread in wild flora of Azerbaijan.
Along with wild plant diversity, information about 404 species available in culture and naturalized to a greater or smaller degree, 146 endemic and 402 sub-endemic species making the unique gene fund of the Azerbaijani flora, as well as species invaded in the vegetation (advent, alien) was included in the work.
Relict (ancient) fern-like species were comprehensively analysed in the large systematic groups.
During analysis of the gymnospermous and angiosperm plants their dissemination in the world, Caucasus and Azerbaijan, environmental and geographical character, main morphological features, importance and eventually verified list of species inside the genus according to requirements of the modern International nomenclature was presented in the book.
The book also tells about around more that 400 species of rare and endangered species of the wild flora, their current state and the ways on how to protect them to pass to next generations. List of endemic and sub-endemic species of Azerbaijan, as well as species inserted in both editions of the 'Red Book of the Azerbaijan Republic' (1989, 2013) were given at the end of the book.
Around 300 colour photos relevant to fauna of Azerbaijan and, especially, rare and engendered species were included in 444 page book published in the elegant design.
The book is a valuable source of information for specialists working in the sphere of plant world of Azerbaijan, botanists, ecologists, students and people interested in nature of Azerbaijan.
