Investigation of Derinöz dam lake (Amasya) and surroundings floristically, ecologically and in terms of certain medicinal plants

In this study, it was investigated the flora of the Derinöz Dam Lake (Amasya) surroundings and the elevation caused variations in the quantities of the essential oil of certain medicinal plants of the research area. 406 species, subspecies and varieties belonging 223 genera and 63 families identified at the research area. 52 of the 406 taxa are endemic with a 12,8% endemism rate. The scattering ratios of the taxa according to the phytogeographical regions were as follows: 19,70% Euro – Siberian (80 taxa), 17,48% Irano – Turanian (70 taxa), 7,63% Mediterrenean (31 taxa) and 55,42% (225 taxa) was pluriregional or unknown. The ranking of the top 5 richest plant families according to the included taxa number were Asteraceae (13,05%, 53 taxa), Fabaceae (10,59%, 43 taxa), Lamiaceae (10,59%, 43 taxa), Caryophyllaceae (6,40%, 26 taxa) and Brassicaceae (5,42%, 22 taxa). 6 taxa, traditionally used as medicinal purposes, were investigated in terms of the elevation caused variations in the quantity of the essential oil. A decline inversely proportional to the elevation determined in the essential oil quantity of the Hypericum montbretii Spach (375%), Hypericum orientale L. (142%), Nepeta nuda L. subsp. albiflora (Boiss.) Gams (37%) and Mentha longifolia subsp. (L.) Hudson longifolia (L.) Hudson (46%) when compared the populations at the highest elevation and the lowest elevation. On the contrary, Achillea biebersteinii Afan (206%) and Achillea millefolium L. subsp. millefolium L. (%22) showed an increase directly proportional to elevation in terms of the essential oil quantities of the populations at the highest elevation and the lowest elevation.