Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant Memorial Lecture: II

classification of the vegetational types. Schweinfurth (1957) has made an
excellent analysis of the flora of the Himalaya particularly regarding the horizontal
and vertical distribution of vegetation in the mountain system. Unfortunately,
Indian botanists have not taken advantage of his analytical approach. However,
comprehensive and more popular attempt has been made by Champion and
Seth (1968). In the recent years, Singh and Singh (1987) have also written about
the forest vegetation of the Himalaya. Broadly speaking there is a major
differentiation between the western and eastern Himalayan regions. The
following account is largely based on Champion and Seth (1968) and Kawosa
(1985).
Western Himalaya
This zone has lower monsoon rainfall but experiences heavy snowfall in
winters. Here, all areas east of Kashmir upto the eastern boundary of Nepal are
included. The vegetation can be distinguished in six different types.
Tropical deciduous Forests: These occur in the foothills of Western Himalaya
in the monsoon belt and are found up to an altitude of 1300m. Shorea robusta is
the dominant species. Associated species are Anogeissus latifolia, Terminalaia
tomentosa, Terminalia belerica and Bauhinia retusa. However, Acacia catechu,
Dalbergia sissoo are frequent in the sand alluvium. Syzygium embryopteris,
Cedrela toona are found humid places. Cinnamomum tamala, Eugenia
oojneinensis, Machilus odoratissima, Pterospermum acerifolium, Trewia nudiflora
and common gorges. Giant climbers like Bauhinia vahlii are very common in
lower altitudes. The drier slopes are occupied by Dendrocalamus strictus in
association with trees other than Sorea robusta luxuriant growth of bushed
occurs as understorey. The species are Mallotus phillipensis, Clerodendron
infortunatum Woodfordia fructicosa, Indigofera pulchella and Carissa spinarum.
However, Berbaeris spp., Rhus cotinus, and Rosa moschata occurs as
undergrowth.
Subtropical Pine Forests: in the entire outer ranges between, the altitudes of
800m to 1800m, there occurs Pinus rozburghii. Jammu, Kumaon and Tehri
Garhwal areas abound with these forests in the pure formation on the quartizite
and lime-stone. At lower altitudes this species is mixed with Shorea robusta,
Anogeissus latifolia, Dalbergia sissoo, and Terminalia spp. On the upper limits of
this forest, Pinus rozburghii is mixed with Quercus incana, Rhododendron
arboreum , Pieris ovalifolia and Myrica nagi. Species like Mallotus phillipensis,
Punica granatum, Mayrisine africana, Rhus parviflora, Carissa spinarum and
Berberis ceratophylla constitute the understorey. Euphorbia royleana cover the
hot dry slopes. This species is associated with Rhus parviflora and Carissa
spinarium. This composition of species occurs in the entire belt of Jammu-
Kangra-Kalka-Mussoorie foothills.
Himalayan Moist Temperate Forests: Here, evergreen oaks and conifers are
associated between altitudes 1800 to 3300m. In these forests the dominant tree
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