Tropical dry deciduous forests of Peninsular India

Abstract

The paper deals with structure, composition, floristic elements, bio-climatic conditions and palaeoecology of the dry deciduous forests. On the basis of dominance, these forests are divided into the teak, sal and miscellaneous types and the latter into Anogeissus latifolia-Terminalia, Hardwickia binata and Anogeissus pendula sub-types. Teak forest is the richest in the number of species followed by sal; A. pendula is the poorest type. Undergrowth contains the largest number of species, followed by upper canopy, understorey and liana in all the types exept in A. latifolia-Terminalia where upper canopy takes the first place. Of the 14 floristic elements, Indian and Indo-Malaysian dominate all the strata but Sudano-Rajasthanian has certain importance in A. pendula forest. Fossil record from the Deccan Intertrappean series indicates marshy and coastal conditions which go in favour of Upper Cretaceous age. Fossils of evergreen and moist deciduous formations from this series and from W. Rajasthan Kutch suggest a wetter climate during Upper Cretaceous-Mid Tertiary for which probable causes are outlined. Trends of progression of the dry teak forest has been discussed in relation to bio-climatic factors.