Study of some Ecological Characteristics and Potential Allelopathic of Otostegia persica in Hormozgan Province

Otostegia persica (Burm.) Boiss. is the medicinal plant of Lamiaceae family that has long been used traditionally in treatment of severe diarrhea, common cold, flatulence, headache, sore, fever, skin allergies, and blood fat and sugar. This research was conducted in 2013 for one year to identify some ecological characteristics and potential allelopathic of O. persica in Hormozgan province. The climate, geology, geo-morphology, land types, associated species, distribution map, growth parameters, soil physical and chemical properties, and the phenology were studied in five regions, including Abmah, Bokhon, Geno, Tangezagh and Bashagard. Also, effects of aqueous extract prepared from leaves of O. persica on 6 species of Brassica oleracea L., Raphanus sativus L., Lepidium sativum L., Coriandrum sativum L., Zinnia elegans L. and Calendula arvensis M. Bieb. were studied. This species is distributed in an altitude of 250-1850 m a.s.l, from the northernmost point of the province to the closest region to the Persian Gulf and from the westernmost point to Bashagerd in the east province. The climate of the study area is arid and hot desert. More than 57.6% of the habitats is mountainous of which 54.6% has limestone formations. The soil texture is sandy loam with pH and EC ranging from 7.42-8.36 and 0.97-1.52, respectively. Aqueous extract prepared from leaves of O. persica inhibited seed germination and decreased speed germination and seedling growth.