Multivariate Evaluation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Diversity for Sustainable Campus Landscape Planning in Iğdır, Türkiye

Due to their aesthetic qualities and versatile applications, medicinal and aromatic plants are an important component of landscape systems. The diversity of color, shape, and texture observed in the vegetative and reproductive organs of these plants contributes to visual composition, while their medicinal and aromatic properties enhance their ecological and socio-cultural significance. However, many taxa are underrepresented in landscape planning applications. This study examined the diversity of medicinal and aromatic plant taxa identified at the Iğdır University Şehit Bülent Yurtseven Campus in Iğdır Province, Turkey, using a descriptive approach. Plant taxa were evaluated based on their families, life forms, leaf characteristics, flowering periods, and medicinal and aromatic properties. Multivariate analyses were conducted to examine phenological similarities among the taxa. A total of 98 plant taxa were identified; 66 taxa possess only medicinal properties, one taxon possesses only aromatic properties, and 31 taxa possess both. These findings reveal that the campus is home to a wide variety of medicinal and aromatic plant taxa, with characteristics relevant to planting layout and species selection. Consequently, this study provides a descriptive foundation for further research on how such taxa can be incorporated into campus planting designs and green space planning.