biodiversity assessment in some selected hill forests of south orissa

SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS: The floral diversity of the hill includes 642 species of plants which is 35% of the
flora of Orissa. The 10 most dominant families of Mahendragiri are Fabaceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae,
Euphorbiaceae, Acanthaceae,
Rubiaceae, Lamiaceae, Cyperaceae,
Apocynaceae and Orchidaceae The
characteristic Himalayan species
occurring on Mahendragiri are Moutia
puya, Viola serpens, Viola betonicifolia,
Clematis roylei, Rhamnus nepalensis,
Anotos calycina, Ajuga macrosperma,
Thalictrum foliolosum, Rubus ellipticus,
Rubia corditolis, Sarcococca trinervia,
Zanthoxylum armatum, Ophiopogon
intermedius etc. The important south
Indian species represented in the hills are Taphrosia rosburghiana, Sida rumbifolia ssp. Retusa, Todalia
asiatica var. obtusifolia, Sophora interrupta, Wendelandia gamble, Pavetta brevifolia, Anaphalis lawii,
Sanecia candicans, Diospyros candolleuna, Peperomia portulacoides, Neolitsea zylenica, Molineria
finlaysoniana, Clausena heptaphylla etc. It is interesting to note that some North Eastern species like
Syzygium cuneatum, Linociera macrophylla, Litsea laeta etc. and some species of Burma and Java such as
Psychoteria fulva, Ophiorhiza trichocarpos etc. were also observed in Mahendragiri. Except Poaceae,
Cyperaceae and Orchidaceae other monocots are poorly represented. Gymnosperm represented by 2
indigenous species such as Cycas circinalis and Gnetum ula. Varied plant and animal species still survive in
the wilds of the region. Out of 32 plant species in the country identified for conservation, cultivation and
sustainable commercial exploitation by the National Medicinal Plants Board under the Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare, botanists have identified at least 15 species available in the Mahendragiri eco-system.
Ecologically, the Mahendragiri terrain is in a very bad shape today as the vegetation cover has become very
thin except in the valleys and towards the lower regions which still have patches of dense forest.
Mahendragiri represents the transitional flora between southern peninsular India and the Himalayas making
the region an ecological estuary of genetic diversities. There are three temples on the top of the mountain.
They are Kunti Temple, Yudhisthira temple and Bhima temple. It is most popular for its Fauna like Elephants,
Spotted Deer, Leopards, Peacock, Flying Squirrels, and Talking Mynas. The Mahendra Tanaya rivulet
wends its way through the forest which abounds in peacocks, flying squirrels and even the talking mynas.
The extravagant beauty of the forested hill is quite breathtaking.