Flora of Garo Hills Districts

The whole of Garo Hills region forms a sort of undulating plateau with plenty of flat lands and valleys with altitudes varying from 100-1400 m above sea level, Nokrek being the highest point, i.e., 1418m. The districts has a rich and unique flora and it is supposed to be the original home of the Citrus.

The vegetation of Garo Hills can be broadly classified into the flora of tropical and sub-tropical zones based on altitude.

Flora of Tropical Zone

The tropical vegetation covers areas upto an elevation of about 1000. The majority of the forests viz. Dilma, Dhima, Chimabangsi, Rajasimla Ildek, Darugre, Rongrenggre, Songsak, Siju, Rewak, Emangre, baghmara, Phulbari, Rongmatchokgre, Rongchugre, Singimari etc. fall in this zone. It embraces evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous forests, bamboo thickets and grasslands including riparian forests and swamps. These forests mainly consists of Shorea robusta and in certain area Tectona grandis has also been introduced. The tallest trees are Schima wallichii, Terminalia belirilia belirica, Engelhardtia spicata, Aesculus assamica, Aporusa wallichii, Bridelia retusa, Cryptocarya andersonii, Talauma hodgsonii, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Gmelina arborea etc.

Miliusa velutina, Hibiscus macrocarpus, Zizyphus rugosa, Helicia robusta, Engelhardtia spicata var. Colebrooliana and Ficus prostrata etc. form the lower canopy. The main components of Shrubby species are – Capparis zeylanica, Garcinia lancifolia, Bauhinia acuminata, Mimosa himalayayana, Acacia Concinna, Mussaenda Roxburghii, Eupatorium Modiflorum, Solanum Kurzii and Phlogacanthus tubiflorus etc. In a few areas, numerous lianas intertwining the trees e.g. Dysolobium grande, Mucuna bracteata, Fissistigma wallichii, Paederia scanders, Solena heterophylla and Aristolocjia saccata are prominent. Rarely, Aristolochia cathcartii may be seen in certain forests. Several species of bamboo stretch for long distances forming thickets of secondary vegetation without any competition. A few palms like Areca, Caryota, Pinanga and Didymosperma are also conspicuous. The ground flora in deciduous forests is very poor and seasonal, while in evergreen forests, species of Alpinia, Amomum, Colocasia, Costus, Hedychium etc are not uncommon. The epiphytic climbers viz. Rhaphidophora spp., members of Gesneriaceae, Hoya app. With beautiful bunches of star like flowers and stem parasites of Loranthaceae and total root parasite Cuscuta reflexa are also seen. A few species of epiphytic orchids are seen in the evergreen forests but they show less species diversity. The herbaceous vegetation is less profuse and includes the members of Oxalidaceae, Balsaminanceae, Acanthaceae, Leeaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Poaceae. Ferns and fern-allies, liverworts and mosses etc. are also seen on old tree trunks and stones etc. near water sources, in shady places. Due to excessive ‘Jhum’ practice most of the forest areas are cleared and secondary monoculture forests of Shorea robusta established. In more or less open moist localities and near water sources, herbs like Dictyospermum, Aneilema Scaberrimum, Burmania Sp., Coiictyospermum, Aneilema Scaberrimum, Burmania Sp., Coix sp. Cyprus spp., Oxalis Corniculate, Anemone spp. and Ericcaulon can be seen.

Flora of sub-tropical vegetation

The sub-tropical vegetation occurs at elevations above 1200 m from sea level and this type of forest is restricted in Tura Peak, Nokrek Peak etc. These are mainly evergreen forests but a few elements of deciduous forests are also seen. The top canopy is contributed by Castanopsis hystrix, Betula culindristachvs, Kavea floribunda, Garonia affinis, Cyathocalvx martabanicus, Talauma rabaniania, Taluma phellocarna, Dryntes lancifolia Pasania xylocarpa, Fiscus spp. and vitax altissima Aldina cordifolia, Sterculia villosa, Garuga pinnata, Machilus gamblei, M. Villosa, Milletia orainii, Carnicia paniculata, Sageraea juarina, Symolocus ferruginea, Eriobotrya benghalensis, Emblica offinialis, Ebretia acuminata, Quercus semiserrata, Betula alnoides with Litsea spp. etc. forming the middle canopy of trees. The lowest canopy comprises Aglata roxburghii, Antidesma bunius, Breynia patens, Pasania spicata, Mitrephora tomentosa, Styrax serrulatim, Premna multiflora.

Entada phaseoloides, Conophalus suaveolens, Dalbergia stipulacea, Spatholobus roxburghii and Vitis latifolia etc. stretch from one tree to another in the forests. The high altitude coupled with low temperature and moisture is congenial for the profile growth of epiphytic flora. The branches of old tree trunks are moss-laden and are fully converted by epiphytic orchids, though species diversity is very low. Ferns, liverworts and mosses etc. are also predominant in this region.

Fauna of Garo Hills Districts

The large number of mammalian fauna includes the followings:

Leopard

Rhesus Macaque

Different varieties of beautiful birds are in abundance in the forest areas of the region. They are

Some other varieties of birds like the White-crested Laughing Thrush, Scarlet Minivet, Black-headed Oriole, Cockoo-shrike, Green Barbet, Chloropsis, Green Himalayan Barbet, White–capped Redstart, Magpie Robin, Yellow Bulbul, Brown Fish Owl, Bee-Eaters, Serpent Eagle, Hill Myna, Pied Myna, Grey-headed Sibia, Slaty-headed Scimitar Babbler as well as various species of Hornbills, Nightjars, Egrets, Parrots, Swallow-Shrikes have also been reported.

Reptile fauna include different varieties of lizards, snakes, turtle/tortoises. Different species of lizards, geckos and skinks include Calotes Emma, C. Maria, C. Versicolor, Cnemaspis Jerdoni, Cytodac Tylus Khasiensis, Cosymbotus Platyrus, Hemidactylus Brooki, H. Frenatus, Gekko Gecko, Japalura Planidorsata etc.

Different species of snakes include Blind snakes, Indian Gamma, Checkered Keelback, Red necked Keelback and others. Important poisonous species include Indian Cobra and Vipers.

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