NATURAL VEGETATION INDIA
TYPE OF VEGETATION
& SPECIAL FEATURES
TROPICAL
EVERGREEN/
TROPICAL
RAINFORESTS
High temperature
and heavy rainfall [
around 200 cm or
more annually]
Trees grow to a
height of 60 m and
above.
Yields hard wood
trees.
DISTRIBUTION
Western Ghats,
[ western side of
Western Ghats
receives more rainfall
as it is on the
windward side hence
tropical evergreen
forests found more
here. Eastern side of
Western Ghats
receives less rainfall
so it has more of
Tropical Moist
Deciduous forests]
Assam, West Bengal,
Lakshadweep,
Andaman Nicobar
islands, Orissa
TROPICAL
DECIDUOUS FORESTS
/ MONSOON
FORESTS[ because
typical type of natural
vegetation of
monsoon regions] –
Most extensive
forests in India
Tropical Moist
Deciduous forests
cover foothills of the
Himalayas, Jharkand,
West Orissa and
Chattisghar besides
eastern slopes of the
Western Ghats. Dry
Deciduous forests
CORRELATION WITH
ENVIRONMENT
Dense, thick
undergrowth due to
heavy rainfall,
no pure stands, that
is a wide variety of
tree species found
close to each other
instead of a single
type [ therefore not
commercially useful]/
evergreen trees , that
is do not shed leaves
– due to warm
temperature and
heavy rain/
floor lacks grass
because of deep
shade of thick canopy
– not allowing
sunlight to penetrate.
Trees shed their
leaves when water
shortage is acute,
specially during spring
and early summer.
Trees do not have
undergrowth. Sun’s
rays reach the lower
portions of the trees
IMPORTANT TREES &
THEIR USES
EBONY – to make
musical instruments,
firewood [ can burn
even in moist
conditions]
Mahogany – crafting
furniture [free of
voids and pockets],
beautiful reddish
brown colour, durable
and excellent
workable quality,
resists wood rot and
hence suitable for
boat and ship
construction, also
used for making
guitars.
Rosewood- strong,
heavy – suitable for
flooring, furniture,
billiard cues, chess
sets.
Rubber – sap like
extract / latex for
natural rubber [
major economic
importance]
Cinchona – medicinal,
bark is source for
quinine – useful in
malaria.
Shisham – cabinets,
plywood, agricultural
instruments, musical
instruments, boats,
flooring. Heartwood
is very durable,
resistant to termites.
Sandalwood – incense
sticks, medicines,
handicrafts, soaps,
cosmetics, perfumes,
talcum powder.
Semal – matchsticks,
plywood, toys,
packages, boats.
– MOIST DECIDUOUS
& DRY DECIDUOUS [
on basis of water
availability]
Moist Deciduous=
100 to 200 cm annual
rainfall
Dry Deciduous = 70 to
100 cm annual
rainfall.
found in Bihar, Uttar
Pradesh.
Most of these forests
have been cleared for
cultivation and
grazing.
and as such grass
grows. Trees not
closely spaced as in
tropical rainforests.
Height of trees = 30 to
50 metres.
TROPICAL DESERTRainfall less than 70
cm
Rajasthan, Gujarat,
Punjab, Haryana, dry
parts of Madhya
Pradesh, rain shadow
areas of the Western
Ghats.
Xerophytes – have
special ways of
conserving water.
Trees have very small
leaves and thorns due
to lack of moisture.
Small, thick leaves
minimise loss of
water. Long roots
penetrate deep into
soil and spread in
radial pattern in
search of water.
Areas of more scanty
rainfall have scrubs
and thorny bushes.
LITTORAL/ SWAMPY /
DELTA/ TIDAL
FORESTS/
MANGROVES
Deltas of Gangs,
Mahanadi, Godavari,
Krishna, Kaveri.
Trees survive both in
fresh as well as
brackish water.
MOUNTAIN FORESTS/
VEGETATION –
The northern slopes
of Himalayas receive
sun’s rays only for a
few hours during the
day at a low angle.
The southern slopes
receive comparatively
vertical rays during
the middle of the day.
As a result the
southern slopes being
warmer have greater
Himalayas
Altitude is the most
important factor
controlling the type of
vegetation in this
mountainous region.
Tropical deciduous
forests are found in
foothill zone. Above
this zone are found
sub-tropical hill
vegetation including
evergreen oaks,
chestnuts and pine
trees. Further higher
Teak – weather
resistant and hence
used for out door
furniture, boat decks,
flooring.
Sal – most suitable for
railway sleepers,
bridges, cart wheels.
Bamboo – decoration,
fuel, construction,
furniture, paper.
Babool- medicinal,
leaves and bark help
in arresting bleeding.
Date Palm – edible
vegetable oil, toddy
or alcoholic beverage,
coir from the outer
shells of coconuts
used as doormats,
mattresses, ropes,
being a water –
resistant fibre.
Kikar – bark and
seeds source of
tannin, seeds used to
cure diarrhoea, leaves
used to arrest
bleeding.
Sundari trees in
Sunderbans delta –
provide hard and
durable timber for
building and
construction as well
as for making boats.
Oak – hard and tough
wood – used for
construction, making
wagons.
Pines – commercially
important trees
valued for timber,
wood pulp and as
ornamentals.
Silver Fir – soft wood
– used in making
paper, packing crates.
evapotranspiration
and the vegetation is
up to higher altitude
on the southern
slopes than the
northern slopes.
we find coniferous
trees like deodar and
cedar. Higher than
this at 3,500 metres
vegetation consists of
shrubs, scrubs and
grass.
Deodar – durable –
rot- resistant used in
building.