Natural vegetation refers to plants that grow without human help. India's vegetation changes with rainfall, temperature and altitude. The country is divided into several forest types, a topic often asked in geography and environment sections.
Tropical Evergreen Forests
- Found in areas with rainfall above 200 cm.
- Trees are tall, dense and stay green all year.
- Found in the Western Ghats, Andaman and north-east India.
Tropical Deciduous Forests
- Also called monsoon forests; most widespread in India.
- Trees shed leaves in the dry season.
- Important trees include teak, sal and sandalwood.
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Thorn Forests and Scrub
- Found in dry areas with rainfall below 70 cm.
- Common in Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat.
- Plants include acacia, cactus and khejri.
Mangrove and Mountain Forests
- Mangrove forests grow in coastal deltas; the Sundarbans is famous for them.
- Mountain forests change with altitude, from oak to pine to alpine grasses.
Quick Revision Points
- Tropical evergreen forests need rainfall above 200 cm.
- Deciduous (monsoon) forests are the most widespread in India.
- Teak and sal are deciduous forest trees.
- Thorn forests grow in areas with rainfall below 70 cm.
- The Sundarbans are famous mangrove forests.
- Mountain vegetation changes with altitude.
- Natural vegetation depends mainly on rainfall and temperature.