Different Types of Vegetation in India
India is a country with diverse vegetation and wildlife. Due to its exclusive diversity in topography, the existential differences in the flora are witnessed. The natural vegetation of India is an example of how rich our natural resources can be to the entire world. In this section, you will learn what is natural vegetation and how it is segmented considering the topography and other features. Keep on reading and find out how the vegetation of India is classified into different types.
India and it's Natural Vegetation
The first thing that we will do is to describe natural vegetation. This term refers to the community of plants growing naturally in a particular area without any human intervention. The naturally-growing plants also show a set of features that match the environment of that place. Apart from all the crops, humans grow in fields and other places, every species of flora growing naturally can be considered as natural vegetation. It all depends on the average climate of a region that determines the type of vegetation. In fact, a pattern is observed in the vegetation growing in a particular climate in different regions. The climatic condition depends on the altitude of the area, seasons, duration of sunlight received, and latitude. It also depends on the soil of that region. Hence, by looking at the factors, you can understand that the duration and intensity of the photoperiod decide the type of vegetation. Apart from these factors, rainfall, humidity, etc also influence the types of vegetation in India.
Types of Natural Vegetation in India
Now that you have understood the natural vegetation meaning, you can easily classify the features of vegetation of a particular zone. The different types of vegetation in India are mentioned below.
1. Tropical Rainforest
This is one of the widest segments of forests found in India. India is a Subtropical country and it witnesses bigger summers and a vast range of rainfalls across the map. Due to the shielding of the Himalayas, the cold Arctic wind is restricted on the other side. As the name suggests, the rain forests occur in the areas witnessing heavy rainfall during the season or across the year. It is found in the Western Ghats, Lakshadweep, Assam, Andaman & Nicobar, Tamil Nadu, etc. The trees can grow up to a height of 60 meters. The noteworthy species found in these forests are mahogany, ebony, rubber, rosewood, and cinchona.
2. Tropical Deciduous Forest
As the name suggests, this natural vegetation comprises deciduous trees that shed their leaves once in a year during the dry summer season. This forest can be seen in the Himalayan foothills, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, etc. In fact, this type of vegetation is also seen on the eastern side of the Western Ghats. The prime species found in this forest are sandalwood, sal, bamboo, teak, shisham, Kusum, mulberry, Khair, Arjun, etc. These species of the natural vegetation of India are also commercially very important for different industries. These forests are generally found in regions that receive rainfall ranging from 70 cm to 200 cm annually.
3. Scrubs and Thorny Vegetations
These particular types of trees explain natural vegetation and a lot about the places where they grow. It is clear that these places get a scanty rainfall of 70 cm annually. This is the reason these plantations have adapted to this arid climate and started growing thorns to preserve water. The trees are generally bushy and thorny in nature. The arid climate and natural vegetation of India signify the features of these plants. You will find these plants in Rajasthan and the upper part of Gujarat where the climate is quite dry. In fact, arid areas of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh with less rainfall also grow such vegetation.
4. Montane forests
Among the different types of vegetation in India, this is a unique type where the species grow bigger leaves and are found at a height of 1000-3000 meters above sea level. The temperature is low and the climate is humid at the height of 1000 – 2000 meters. Here, you will find broad-leaved evergreen trees of chestnuts, oaks, etc. Above 1500 meters to 3000 meters, the natural vegetation has a temperate set of features. Here, the temperature drops and the climate is dryer. Trees like silver fir, deodar, spruce, pine, etc grow.
5. Mangrove Forests
If we talk about the natural vegetation of the deltas and estuaries, we will find exceptional features of the entire group of species. These trees and plants grow in tidal regions. The roots are submerged in tidal water. The common trees are Sundari plants found in the deltas of the Ganga, Kaveri, Mahanadi, Krishna, and Godavari. These forests are quite dense. Some of the plants also have roots that grow upwards.
Indian Medicinal Plants
The medicinal plants in India tell the stories of the rich history of Ayurveda. The spices and medicinal plants are listed by the World Conservation Union. The Red List contains 352 medicinal plants grown in India. 52 out of this list are threatened with extinction. The common medicinal plants are tulsi, sarpagandha, babool, neem, Jamun, Arjun, etc. Study about these types of the natural vegetation of India and understand how the features depend on the climatic conditions.
The natural vegetation of India is a part of geography that is taught in grade 7 and grade 9 of the schools which followed the CBSE curriculum. Natural vegetation of India and wildlife is mainly discussed in detail in class nine, in chapter 5 called natural vegetation and wildlife.
Study notes on the topic of the natural vegetation of India provided by Vedantu are an extremely important resource for students. These notes are tailored according to the student’s needs as they are prepared by Vedantu’s expert geography teachers who have years of experience and are well-versed in the study of geography, they have done a critical analysis of the previous year question papers and the study notes are based on the latest curriculum set by the Central board of secondary education.
Natural vegetation can be defined as the endowments of nature; this vegetation is grown naturally under favorable climatic conditions. Different types of vegetation are grown in different areas depending upon various factors such as climate, topography, precipitation, soil, etc. vegetation is nearly the fruits orchards and crops that are cultivated and therefore do not come under natural vegetation
Having 47000 plant species, India ranks 10th in the world and fourth in Asia in plant diversity, it is considered as one of the 12 mega biodiversity nations of the world. India has about 15,000 flowering plants, which accounts for 6% in the world's total number of flowering plants.
In other words, natural vegetation mainly refers to communities of plants that have grown naturally without any sort of humanitarian aid and that have been left dormant by humans for a long time. This type of vegetation is called virgin vegetation, therefore, crops, fruits, and orchards that are cultivated come under vegetation but not natural vegetation.
Key Topics Covered in Chapter 5 of Class 9 Natural Vegetation and Wildlife
Relief,
land,
soil,
climate,
temperature,
photoperiod,
precipitation,
tropical evergreen forest,
tropical diseases forest,
the thorn Forest and scrubs,
Montaigne forest,
mangrove forest,
Wildlife
Conclusion
Taking a quick glance at notes available from Vedantu will help students get better equipped with the concept and therefore will enable them to answer the questions in the best possible way in the examinations that are held at the end of the term. These study notes provide students with a much-needed boost for the preparation of the examination.
FAQs on Natural Vegetation of India
1. What exactly is 'natural vegetation' and how does it differ from the plants in a park or a farm?
Natural vegetation, also known as virgin vegetation, refers to a plant community that has grown naturally without any human interference. It has been left undisturbed by humans for a long time, allowing it to adapt to the region's specific climate and soil. This is different from cultivated plants, like crops in a farm or flowers in a park, which are planted and maintained by humans and are not considered natural vegetation.
2. What are the five major types of natural vegetation found in India?
Based on the climatic conditions, particularly rainfall, India's natural vegetation is broadly classified into five major types:
Tropical Evergreen Forests: Found in high-rainfall areas, these forests are dense and multi-layered.
Tropical Deciduous Forests: The most widespread forests in India, also known as monsoon forests, where trees shed their leaves in the dry season.
Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs: Found in arid and semi-arid regions with low rainfall.
Montane Forests: Vegetation type changes with increasing altitude in mountainous regions.
Mangrove Forests: Found in coastal deltas and are adapted to survive in saline water.
3. What is the importance of natural vegetation for India's environment and economy?
Natural vegetation is of immense importance. Environmentally, forests moderate the local climate, regulate the water cycle, prevent soil erosion, and are a major source of oxygen. Economically, they provide timber for industries, medicinal plants, firewood, and support livelihoods. They also provide a natural habitat for wildlife, which is crucial for maintaining ecological balance and promoting tourism.
4. How does the amount of rainfall directly influence the type of forest found in a particular region of India?
Rainfall is the most critical factor determining the type of natural vegetation. Regions with over 200 cm of annual rainfall support dense Tropical Evergreen Forests. Areas receiving between 70 cm and 200 cm of rainfall have Tropical Deciduous Forests, which shed their leaves to conserve water. In contrast, regions with less than 70 cm of rainfall are characterised by Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs, where plants have long roots, thick bark, and small leaves to minimise water loss.
5. What is the key difference between Tropical Evergreen and Tropical Deciduous forests?
The primary difference lies in their response to water availability. Tropical Evergreen Forests are found in areas with heavy rainfall throughout the year, so there is no specific dry season for trees to shed their leaves, making the forest appear green year-round. Conversely, Tropical Deciduous Forests are found in regions with a distinct dry season. The trees here shed their leaves for about six to eight weeks during summer to conserve moisture.
6. How does altitude in the Himalayas change the type of natural vegetation found there?
In mountainous areas like the Himalayas, a succession of vegetation types can be seen from the foothills to the peaks, a phenomenon known as altitude zonation.
At the foothills, you find tropical deciduous forests.
Between 1000 and 2000 metres, wet temperate forests with broad-leaf trees like oak and chestnut are common.
Between 1500 and 3000 metres, coniferous trees like pine, deodar, and silver fir dominate.
Above 3600 metres, this gives way to Alpine vegetation, including shrubs, scrubs, and grasslands, which eventually merge into the snowline.
7. What are Mangrove forests and what are their special characteristics?
Mangrove forests, or tidal forests, are found in the coastal areas influenced by tides, especially in the deltas of major rivers like the Ganga, Mahanadi, and Godavari. Their most special characteristic is their adaptation to survive in both saline and fresh water. The trees have complex stilt-like roots that remain submerged under water, helping them breathe in waterlogged soil and providing strong anchorage against tidal waves. The Sundari tree, found in the Sundarbans delta, is a well-known example.
8. Why is there a close relationship between the natural vegetation and the animal life of a region?
The relationship is interdependent and fundamental to any ecosystem. Natural vegetation provides the primary food source and shelter (habitat) for animal life. The type of vegetation directly determines the kinds of animals that can thrive in an area. For example, the grassy, open deciduous forests are home to large mammals like elephants and tigers, while the dense mangrove forests are the unique habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger and various aquatic species. Animals, in turn, help in pollination and seed dispersal, aiding the propagation of vegetation.
9. What are 'endemic' and 'exotic' flora in the context of India?
The terms refer to the origin of plant species. Endemic flora consists of plant species that are purely of Indian origin and have grown here naturally without any external influence. They are native to India and not found anywhere else in the world. In contrast, exotic flora refers to plant species that have originated outside India and have been introduced into the country from other parts of the world.
10. Why is the conservation of India's natural vegetation essential for the future?
Conserving India's natural vegetation is crucial for maintaining ecological balance and ensuring a sustainable future. It protects our rich biodiversity, prevents soil erosion, helps in recharging groundwater, and plays a vital role in regulating the climate and water cycle. With increasing threats from deforestation, urbanisation, and pollution, protecting our forests through initiatives like establishing Biosphere Reserves and National Parks is essential for the well-being of both humans and wildlife.
