Determination of the aesthetical and functional use of certain natural plants in Hatila Valley National Park in landscape architecture

Abstract

Selection of plant material is very important in landscape planning. Use of the indigenous plant material increases the success of landscape architecture applications and it is the economic approach to preserve urban and environmental integrity. Thus, it would be possible to utilize different characteristic of natural species that represent the identitiy of the region in the planning phase. In the present study, the flora in Hatila National Park and environs was evaluated from this aspect of the landscape architecture design. Plant taxa, part of natural vegetation, reflecting woody and herbaceous plants property with their functional and esthetics values in landscape architecture, were investigated. In the present study, 769 plant taxa that belong 95 families obtained from a study titled "Artvin-Hatila valley flora" conducted between 1994 and 1997 were evaluated. From 769 plants, 401 taxa were determined as suitable for utilization in landscape architecture design. The evaluated plants, from various growth media (especially rocky, roadside, riverside, wet place, slope, mixed forest, alpine and subalpine conditions) and landscape values of about 401 taxa from 76 families were determined. The objectives of use of 401 plant species scrutinized in the study were determined based on their landscape values and growth medium properties. Based on ecological, aesthetical and functional roles of all plants scrutinized in the study, most were suitable for aesthetical utilization and lest were suitable for ecological utilization in landscape planning.