Natural Vegetation
NATURAL VEGETATION
Natural vegetation refers to a plant community which has grown naturally without human aid and has been left undisturbed by humans for a long time. This is termed as virgin vegetation. Thus, cultivated crops and fruits, orchards form part of vegetation but not natural vegetation. Virgin vegetation -The virgin vegetation, which are purely Indian are known as endemic or indigenous species but those which have come from outside India are termed as exotic plants. Flora- The term flora is used to denote plants of a particular region or period. Fauna- the species of animals are referred to as fauna. This huge diversity in flora and fauna kingdom is due to the following factors. RELIEF Land Land affects the natural vegetation directly and indirectly. The nature of land influences the type of vegetation. The fertile level is generally devoted to agriculture. The undulating and rough terrains are areas where grassland and woodlands develop and give shelter to a variety of wild life. Soil The soils also vary over space. Different types of soils provide basis for different types of vegetation. The sandy soils of the desert support cactus and thorny bushes while wet, marshy, deltaic soils support mangroves and deltaic vegetation. The hill slopes with some depth of soil have conical trees.
CLIMATE
Temperature The character and extent of vegetation are mainly determined by temperature along with humidity in the air, precipitation and soil. On the slopes of the Himalayas and the hills of the Peninsula above the height of 915 metres, the fall in the temperature affects the types of vegetation and its growth, and changes it from tropical to subtropical temperate and alpine vegetation.
Temperature Characteristics of the Vegetation Zones Vegetation Zones Tropical Sub-tropical Temperate Alpine Mean Annual Average Temp.(in degree C) Above 24°C 17°C to 24°C 7°C to 17° C Below 7°C Mean Temp. In Jan. In degree C Above 18° 10°C to 18°C -1°C to (-10 ) °C
Natural vegetation refers to a plant community which has grown naturally without human aid and has been left undisturbed by humans for a long time. This is termed as virgin vegetation. Thus, cultivated crops and fruits, orchards form part of vegetation but not natural vegetation. Virgin vegetation -The virgin vegetation, which are purely Indian are known as endemic or indigenous species but those which have come from outside India are termed as exotic plants. Flora- The term flora is used to denote plants of a particular region or period. Fauna- the species of animals are referred to as fauna. This huge diversity in flora and fauna kingdom is due to the following factors. RELIEF Land Land affects the natural vegetation directly and indirectly. The nature of land influences the type of vegetation. The fertile level is generally devoted to agriculture. The undulating and rough terrains are areas where grassland and woodlands develop and give shelter to a variety of wild life. Soil The soils also vary over space. Different types of soils provide basis for different types of vegetation. The sandy soils of the desert support cactus and thorny bushes while wet, marshy, deltaic soils support mangroves and deltaic vegetation. The hill slopes with some depth of soil have conical trees.
CLIMATE
Temperature The character and extent of vegetation are mainly determined by temperature along with humidity in the air, precipitation and soil. On the slopes of the Himalayas and the hills of the Peninsula above the height of 915 metres, the fall in the temperature affects the types of vegetation and its growth, and changes it from tropical to subtropical temperate and alpine vegetation.
Temperature Characteristics of the Vegetation Zones Vegetation Zones Tropical Sub-tropical Temperate Alpine Mean Annual Average Temp.(in degree C) Above 24°C 17°C to 24°C 7°C to 17° C Below 7°C Mean Temp. In Jan. In degree C Above 18° 10°C to 18°C -1°C to (-10 ) °C