Flora of Çoruh Valley

The Çoruh Basin is one of the most spectacular nature reserves in Turkey. Its rich biological diversity is unique. This is a result of the varying altitudes of the valleys where the difference between the lowest and the highest point can reach up to 3,000 metres. In the region between Ispir and Yusufeli the vegetation and plant cover is astonishingly diverse. It varies from dry scrub to humid mixed deciduous forests and from rice paddies to alpine meadows. This is due to the extreme variations in climate within a very small area. Consequently, the many valleys of the Çoruh Basin host many unique plant species. There are estimated to be around 100 plant species endemic to the area or found in very few other places, including rare orchids, irises and pelargonium varieties.

Seasons and Habitats
There are three good seasons to see flowers. In early spring (which varies with altitude from April to June), over 2000m, the tiny alpines come into flower as the snow retreats. Amongst snow patches tiny bulbs poke their head through the soil as soon as they feel the warmth of the sun. Typical plants are crocus, scilla, grape hyacinth and gageas. After the bulbs, June-July, damp meadows at low and higher levels are home to masses of purple-pink spikes of orchids, mainly dactylorhiza species. Alongside are several species of primulas, both pink and yellow, and at the same time rhododendrons come into flower and the lower meadows are bright with bloom.
Finally, in early autumn (September-October), as cattle move down from the ‘yaylas’, three species of autumn crocuses flower in masses of white (Crocus vallicosa), yellow (Crocus scharonjani) and, most spectacularly, pink (Colchicum speciosum). The remaining wild fruits ripen and are harvested.
The area can be split into three zones. First, in the river-bottom meadows, verges and wet flushes and on the riverside gravel banks, plants include bright pink campions, white sophora root and bright blue borage, (Paracaryum artvinense). Above this is the dry, bare and steep steppe zone up the valley sides where, amongst juniper and scrub, are yellow flax and tiny pinks. Eminium koenenianum is a spotted-leaved arum and Eryngium giganteum a giant sea holly found in damper parts of this zone.
In the higher zone, there are a variety of microclimates, resulting in mixed forests with open clearings, where wild strawberries and raspberries flourish and damp meadows where orchids, gentians, anemones and aquilegias splash colour.

Exciting Plants
In all the wet flushes the common orchid you will see are the statuesque dactylorhizas: euxina, flavscens, osmanica, umbrosa and urvilleana. They are all similar red-purple spikes with upward-pointing leaves, often with spots, and flower around the same time in May-June, along with bug orchids, (Orchis coriophora) and dull, spiky serapias. Red helleborine (Cephelanthera rubra) and the pinewood orchid Orchis mascula ss pinetorum) grow in pinewoods.
Spectacular crimson peony (Paeonia mascula) covers a whole hillside on the road north from Ispir; the creamy Caucasian peony (Paeonia wittmanniana) is only known from a few sites in Turkey; one is in the Çoruh area.
Tiny snowmelt bulbs include pink colchicum szovitsii, deep brown fritillaria latifolia and deep blue muscari spp., gentiana verna pontica is the bright blue snowmelt gentian.
Later meadow bulbs include a yellow or red tulip, (Tulipa Julia) and the purple wild gladiolus (Gladiolus kotschyanus); Star of Bethlehem (ornithogallum) comes in a variety of sizes and shapes, all with a green centre to the white flower.
The area is rich in a variety of irises; Iris taochia is a yellow endemic found in the gorge near Ispir and Iris caucasica is a green-yellow miniature meadow iris.
For an expert or rock-garden lover, the white or blue bellflowers which hang from the rocks or flourish in the meadows are very interesting. They are of many different species and include endemics Campanula choruhensis (white flushed pink), C. seaglio, C. troegerae and others, some identified very recently.
Damp-loving primulas include the mop-headed pink Primula algida and P. auriculata, the primrose in both yellow (P. vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) and pink (subsp. megacalyx) and the cowslip (P. elatior) with a purple variety.
The obvious high-level shrubs are deep-green leaved, white-flowered Rhododendron caucasium. On the valley sides grow capers (Cappari spinosa), the yellow-flowered barberry (Berberis crataegina), the dangerous thorns-of-Christ (Paliurus spina-christi), and dog roses (Rosa canina).

Practical Information
There are currently believed to be about 90 species endemic to the Çoruh, but the climate and terrain make scientific investigation difficult; new species are being discovered every year. The Alpine Garden Society’s ‘Bulbous Plants of Turkey and Iran’ is an illustrated guide to bulbs, and ‘The most beautiful wildflowers of Turkey’ by Erdoğan Tekin, is a non-specialist’s guide to 1000 species, with attractive photographs.
There are few bilingual Turkish botanic guides but some foreign firms run botanic tours of the area. Search the Internet or e-mail one of the sites for information.