Vegetation of Sikkim
- Sikkim provides a great variety of habitats, that support and sustains rich flora and fauna.
- The Vegetation of Sikkim changes from tropical to subtropical upwards through middle hills with much coniferous and Oak forests of temperate character to the higher slopes with sub alpine scrub and alpine “meadows” generally related to higher alpine flora of the north temperate zone.
- Sikkim has been known to be the most humid region in the whole range of Himalaya, because of its proximity to the Bay of Bengal and direct exposure to the south-west monsoon.
- The annual rainfall ranges from 200 – 500 cm in most of its inner valleys except for its northern most region which receives scanty rainfall.
- Throughout the year, but particularly from June to September, monsoon brings heavy rainfall to the state.
- Lower hills and valleys enjoy a sub tropical climate, warm in winter, hot and extremely humid in summer.
- Towards interior the climate becomes gradually more temperate.
Flowering Plants of Sikkim
- Sikkim is one of the biodiversity rich states of our country.
- The flowering plant diversity Sof the state with some indicative figures of dominant genera like Bulbophyllum, Calanthe, Coelogyne, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Gentiana, Juncus, Pedicularis, Primula, Rhododendron and Swertia recorded from the region.
- Nearly 165 species have been named after the state, as they were first collected from the state or plants were known to occur in Vegetation of Sikkim.
- Some of the representative endemic species of the state have also been listed.
- One hundred ninety seven families, 1371 genera have been appended with indicative number of species of each genus known to occur in Vegetation of Sikkim.
- In all more than 4450 species of flowering plants recorded so far.
Biodiversity of Vegetation of Sikkim
- India is recognized as one of the 12 mega diversity centres of the world. Out of the 18 Biodiversity hot-spots in the world, India owns 2, namely the Western Ghats and the Eastern Himalayas.
- Sikkim covering just 0.2 % of the geographical area of the country has tremendous biodiversity and has been identified as one of the HOT-SPOT in the Eastern Himalayas.
- There are 10 bio-geographic zones & 25 biotic provinces— which have 16 major forests types & > 200 sub types as per (Champion & Seth 1968).
- Sikkim falls under Himalayan (2) Bio-geographic zone & Central Himalaya (2c) biotic province—-having about 9 types of forests types (Champion & Seth).
- The State is endowed with rich floral and faunal diversity. Species wise, the State harbors over 4500 flowering plants, 550 Orchids, 36 Rhododendrons, 16 Conifers, 28 Bamboos, 362 Ferns and its allies, 9 Tree Ferns, 30 24.8 41.5 48.3 47.8C117.2 448 288 448 288 448s170.8 0 213.4-11.5c23.5-6.3 42-24.2 48.3-47.8 11.4-42.9 11.4-132.3 11.4-132.3s0-89.4-11.4-132.3zm-317.5 213.5V175.2l142.7 81.2-142.7 81.2z"/> Subscribe on YouTube