Question

Which one of the following is the characteristic vegetation of regions between the snow line and about $3000$ meters above mean sea level of the Himalayan region?

• A. Forests of oak, deodar, chestnut and maple trees
• B. Thick forests of birch, fir spruce and other trees
• C. A few dwarf shrubs
• D. Forests of khair, sandalwood, palas and other trees

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Forests of oak, deodar, chestnut and maple trees

Mountain forests in India are normally classified into two types, i.e. the northern mountain forests and the southern mountain forests.

Deciduous forests are found in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Temperate forests found between an altitude of 1,000 and 2,000 m.

In the higher hill ranges of northeastern India; for example, hilly areas of West Bengal and Uttaranchal, evergreen broad leaf trees such as oak and chestnut are predominant.

Chir, deodar, pine, etc. are the important species of temperate forests.

Between 3,000 and 4,000 m, Silver firs, junipers, pines, birch, and rhododendrons, etc. are found.

However, at higher altitude, the tundra vegetation is found and major species are mosses and lichens.

At a higher altitude, the southern mountain forests largely belong to the temperate type, which are locally known as ‘Sholas’ in the Nilgiris, Anaimalai, and Palani hills. Some of the trees of economic significance include magnolia, laurel, cinchona, and wattle.