Natural Vegetation
Vegetation changes with altitude, so it forms belts.
| Belt | Altitude (m) | Trees |
|---|---|---|
| Sub-tropical dry deciduous | 300 to 1,000 | Sal, shisham, kikar, phulai (Jammu plains) |
| Sub-tropical pine | 900 to 1,800 | Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) |
| Temperate (coniferous) | 1,800 to 3,000 | Deodar, blue pine (kail), fir, spruce |
| Sub-alpine | 3,000 to 3,500 | Birch (bhojpatra), fir, rhododendron |
| Alpine | 3,500 to 4,500 | Meadows, shrubs, flowers |
| Tundra / cold desert | Above 4,500 | Mosses, lichens; sparse vegetation |
Key facts
- Deodar is the "timber of the gods" and the tree of the Himalaya, and chinar (Platanus orientalis) is the symbol of Kashmir. Willow (cricket bats) grows in the Pulwama and Anantnag area.
- Forests of the Pir Panjal have chir, fir, deodar.
- Margs: Gulmarg ("meadow of flowers"), Sonamarg ("meadow of gold"), Yusmarg, Doodhpathri, Tosamaidan.
- Ladakh: willow, poplar and sea buckthorn grow along streams; the rest is bare.
- Medicinal herbs: Kuth, Kutki, saffron, morels (guchchi) and others.
- Dense forests lie on the Pir Panjal slopes and in Kishtwar, Doda, Kupwara and Poonch (use the latest India State of Forest Report for exact numbers).
Keep practising
Notes are only half the work. Test yourself with questions and discuss doubts with other aspirants.
Prepared for exam revision from standard sources, official publications and the Census. Figures and recent developments change, so check official sources before relying on them. Found a mistake? Tell us.