UPSC Prelims 2014 Q23: Geography – Biogeography & Natural Vegetation
If you travel through the Himalayas, you are likely to see which of the following plants
naturally growing there?
1. Oak
2. Rhododendron
3. Sandalwood
Select the correct answer
using the code given below.
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Explanation
Plants growing naturally in the Himalayas
| Plant | Grows naturally in the Himalayas? | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Oak | Yes | Temperate broad-leaved forests, about 1,500 to 3,000 m |
| 2. Rhododendron | Yes | Temperate and sub-alpine zones; state tree of Uttarakhand and state flower of Nagaland and Himachal Pradesh |
| 3. Sandalwood | No | A tree of dry deciduous forests of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu |
Himalayan vegetation by height:
| Zone | Trees |
|---|---|
| Foothills | Sal, teak (tropical deciduous) |
| 1,000 to 2,000 m | Oak, chestnut, chir pine |
| 2,000 to 3,000 m | Deodar, blue pine, rhododendron |
| Above 3,000 m | Silver fir, birch, juniper; then alpine meadows |
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Oak and rhododendron grow naturally in the Himalayas.
- (b) Incorrect. Sandalwood is a tree of the southern dry forests.
- (c) Incorrect. Sandalwood does not grow naturally in the Himalayas.
- (d) Incorrect. Only oak and rhododendron qualify; sandalwood does not.
Key point
Himalayas: oak, rhododendron, deodar, pine, fir by altitude. Sandalwood: dry deciduous forests of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Remember
Oak and rhododendron: Himalayan. Sandalwood: southern.
Common mistakes
- Placing sandalwood in the hills because it is valuable timber.
- Forgetting that vegetation changes with altitude in the Himalayas.
- Confusing sandalwood with red sanders of Andhra Pradesh.
Exam tip
Sandalwood = Mysore. It is a southern plateau tree.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI — India: Physical Environment, Ch 5 (Natural Vegetation)
- Forest Survey of India — India State of Forest Report (forest types)