Phytogeographical Affinities of Flora of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
Suresh H.S. & R. Sukumar
Published on : 01-Jan-2022
DOI : https://dx.doi.org/10.22244/rheedea.1999.09.01.01
DownloadAbstract
Vegetation of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) was characterized. A total of 5373 individuals above 3.0 cm DBH (Diameter at breast height) belonging to 364 species were enumerated. Phytogeographical affinities of the species was looked into by obtaining information about the species distribution at local and global scale. An analysis of the affinities reveals that NBR flora has strong lndomalayan (27. 7%) and Indian (30.3%) affinities. Flora of moist vegetation types had strong affinities with lndomalayan (20.1 %); Indian (38.6%) and lndolankan (9. 7%) flora while flora of dry vegetation types had species with Afrotropical and Pantropical affinities. Tropical montane forest type had maximum number of endemic species (20%) suggesting that the vegetation is highly specialized and requires high priority for conservation.
