Abstract. Mud volcanoes are widespread across many countries worldwide, yet the vegetation
associated with these formations in Azerbaijan remains insufficiently studied. The dynamic
processes occurring on mud volcanoes significantly influence their vegetation, highlighting the
need for detailed floristic and geobotanical research. The study of mud volcanism in relation to
vegetation is currently highly specialized and fragmented.
For the first time in Azerbaijan, the species composition of the Gyzmeidan mud volcano, situated
in the eastern part of the Greater Caucasus botanical and geographical area, has been thoroughly
analyzed. Research conducted between 2018 and 2023 identified 90 species from 81 genera and
33 families. The most represented families were Asteraceae (Giseke) with 14 species (16%) and
Poaceae (Barnhart) with 8 species (9%). Three rare species were documented: Ophrys oestrifera M.
Bieb., Pyrus salicifolia Pall., and Rosa pulverulenta M. Bieb.
The study revealed that the vegetation cover becomes more abundant and diverse with increasing
distance from the eruptive center of the volcano. Life form analysis indicated that 44 species
are perennial herbaceous plants, while 31 are annuals. Ombrophytes, characterized by shallow
root systems that utilize precipitation, dominate with 64 species, while phreatophytes and
trichohydrophytes account for 10 and 16 species, respectively. These findings provide essential
insights into the ecological dynamics of mud volcano flora.