Question

Name different types of vegetation found in India and describe the vegetation of the high altitudes.

Answer 1

Hint: Vegetation that grows naturally in an area is called natural vegetation. These are plants that grow on their own, without human interference, following the dictates of nature and climatic variables.

Complete answer: Natural vegetation in India is diverse as vegetation depends on precipitation, soil, climate and topography and India being a huge country have different geographical factors in different regions.
The following are the six major types of vegetation found in India.
1. Tropical evergreen rainforests found are in areas which receive more than 200cm rainfall like Western Ghats, Assam and Meghalaya.
2. Deciduous forests are found in areas which receive 100cm to 200cm rainfall like Chattisgarh, Bihar and Odisha.
3. Dry deciduous forest is found in areas which receive 50cm to 100cm rainfall like Punjab and Haryana.
4. Tidal or mangrove forests are found around the coast and in delta regions like the Sundarbans.
5. Semi deserts and desert vegetation is found in areas that receive less than 50cm rainfall like Gujarat and Rajasthan.
6. Montane forests are the forests found in higher altitudes and mountains. They vary according to slope and height.
 From 1000m to 2000m above sea level, wet temperate forest with trees like oak and chestnut are found. On the foothills of the Himalayas until a height of 1500 meters, evergreen trees like Sal, teak, and bamboo grow copiously. Higher than 1500m, in temperate climate, conifer trees like pine, fir, and oak are common. Above 3000m, temperate grasslands are found. At elevation higher than 3600m above sea level, alpine vegetation with plants like silver fir and junipers is found. Alpine vegetation finally gives way to tundra vegetation where mosses and lichens are found.

Note: Montane forests have animals like Kashmir stag, spotted deer , wild sheep, jack rabbit, Tibetan antelope, yak, snow leopard, squirrels, wild ibex, bear and rare red panda, sheep and goats with thick hair.
Gujjars and Bakarwals are some of the nomadic tribes that frequent these forests to graze their animals.