Natural Vegetation

The natural vegetation vary according to climate, soil and altitude. The major types of vegetation found in India are: Evergreen forests, Monsoon forests, Dry forests, Thorn and Scrub forests, Tidal forests and Himalayan vegetation. 

Tropical Evergreen Forests

• These forests grow in areas where rainfall ranges between 200 to 300 cm.
• These are dense forests of luxuriant growth.
• Tall and broad leaves.
• The trees do not shed their leaves annually. Hence they are evergreen.
• The average temperature : 25°C to 27°C.
• Trees are of tall and medium size.
• Important varieties of trees are Ebony, Rosewood and Mahogany.

Tropical Deciduous Forest (Monsoon Forests)

They are of two types: Moist deciduous and Dry deciduous.

Moist deciduous

• Found in areas where the rainfall is in between 100 cm and 200 cm. 
• These are seen on the eastern slopes of the western ghats, in the north eastern part of Peninsula (around Chotanagpur Plateau) and along Siwaliks.
• This is the important vegetation of Kerala.
• The trees of these forests shed their leaves during winter and summer.
• The main trees are Teak, Sal, Sandalwood, Deodar, Ebony, Rosewood and Bamboo.

Dry deciduous

• These forests are found on the drier margins of the tropical wet deciduous forests, where the rainfall decreases to 100 - 150 cm and dry weather prevails for longer period.
• These are seen in the Peninsular Plateau region.
• Dwarf deciduous trees and long grasses grow in these regions.
• Most of the areas are used for agriculture.

Thorn and Scrub forests

• These forests grow in areas where the rainfall is less than 70 cm. 
• Such forests exists in the north western part of the country from Saurashtra to the Punjab plains, North Madhya Pradesh and South West Uttar Pradesh.
• Kikar, Babul, wild palm and coarse grass are some form of vegetation here.

Tidal Forests

• These forests grow along the coast and on the edges of the deltas.
• A well known variety of mangrove tree called Sundari are found in West Bengal. So the Ganga Brahmaputhra delta is called Sunderban.
• The other notable trees of these forests are hogla, garan, gewa, golpata, pasur, etc.
• These forests supply timber and fire wood.

Himalayan vegetation

• These forests vary considerably according to altitude with varying rainfall and temperature along the slopes of mountain.
• Trees such as oak, chestnut and apple are common at about 1000 to 2000 metres hight in the Himalayan region.
• Coniferous trees like pine and cedar are seen at altitudes between 1600m and 3300m.
• Trees of Alpine variety like Silver fir, birch and juniper grow at an altitude of about 3600m.
• The Alpine grasses and shrubs are seen at still higher elevation until the snow line is reached.