Eco Report of the area - IIT Mandi

Chir Pine (Pinus roxburghii ) is associated with Rhododendron arboreum, Phoenix sylvestris,
Myrica esculanta and Engelhardia spicata. The common shrub species forming understory of the
Chir forest include Rhus cotinus, Berberis lycium, Berberis asiatica, Reinwardtia indica and
Prinsepia utilis. The ground vegetation is represented by a variety of herbaceous species such as
Gentiana capitata, Geranium wallichianum, Gerbera gossypina, Artemisia vestita, Eupatorium
adenophorum, Galium aparine, Stellaria media, Taraxacum officinale, Campanula argyrotricha,
Aechmanthera pedata, Bergenia ciliata, Sauromatum pedatum, Leucas lanata, Micromeria biflora,
Scutellaria angulosa, Ajuga parviflora, Ageratum conyzoides, Senecio nudicaulis, Notholirion
thomsonianum and Tulipa stellata. Common grasses associated with Chir forest are Arundinella
nepalensis, Themeda anathera, Oplismens burmanii, Eulaliopsis binata, Thysanolaena maxima,
Apluda mutica, Cynodon dactylon, Arundinaria falcata (Nargal) and Pennisetum orientale.
Chargha is the only part of the Campus where there is a dense natural stand of the Chir Pine
(Pinus roxburghii). As with the rest of the landscape, aspect plays a major role in determining the
distribution of vegetation in that the natural Chir forests are confined to the slopes. Here there are
occasional trees of Rhododendron arboreum (example the southern slopes facing Salgi). Chir Pine
trees over the rest of the Campus are largely planted. They are young, as inferred by the slender
boles.
Myrica esculenta is a very valuable medicinal plant and its fruits are cherished by the local people
and also eaten by a variety of frugivorous birds and other animals. Tulipa stellata (Wild Tulip) and
Notholirion thomsonianum (Lily) are small interesting herbaceous flowering plants growing
exclusively in the Chir forests. These species are of high conservation significance.
A major chunk of vegetation in the Campus is represented by scrub which seems to be a result of
degradation of the dry mixed broadleaved deciduous forests and subtropical scrub due to overgrazing,
timber and fuelwood collection during the past several decades. This vegetation type can
be seen mainly around Hilog and Gharpa. Besides a number of shrub species, a few tree species
can be seen scattered here and there e.g., Albizia julibrissin, Bauhinia variegata, Bombax ceiba,
Celtis tetrandra, Emblica officinalis, Ficus palmata, Ficus roxburghii, Ficus semicordata,
Glochidion velutinum, Grewia optiva, Juglans regia, Mallotus philippensis, Machilus odoratissima,
Morus alba, and Myrica esculenta. The shrub species of the this habitat are Adhatoda zeylanica,
Agave americana, Barleria cristata, Berberis asiatica, Berberis lycium, Boehmeria platyphylla,
Buddleja paniculata, Pogostemon benghalense, Caryopteris odorata, Colebrookea oppositifolia,
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