Natural Vegetation — Set 2

Correct Answer: A. Tropical Deciduous Forests

• **Sandalwood (Chandan) = found in Tropical Deciduous forests** of South India, particularly Karnataka. • **Hemiparasitic plant** — sandalwood takes nutrients from the roots of neighbouring plants while also photosynthesising. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Tidal Forests: coastal mangroves, wrong habitat; Montane: cold altitude forests; Tropical Evergreen: sandalwood prefers drier deciduous zones.

Correct Answer: D. Sal

• **Sal = dominant tree of the Chhota Nagpur Plateau** deciduous forests, providing hard durable timber. • **Railway sleepers and construction** — Sal wood is widely used for these purposes due to its strength and durability. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Rubber: tropical plantation crop, not a natural Chhota Nagpur species; Cactus: dry thorn regions; Pine: Himalayan conifers, not central Indian plateau.

Correct Answer: A. Up to 60 meters or more

• **Tropical Evergreen forest trees = can reach 60 metres or more** in height due to competition for sunlight under dense canopy. • **Multi-layered vegetation** — tall emergent trees, a closed canopy layer, understory, and ground cover all coexist. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Up to 20 m: typical of deciduous forests; Only 5 m: alpine or thorn scrub; Always exactly 10 m: no forest has a fixed uniform height.

Correct Answer: A. Tidal Forests

• **Mangrove forests = also called Tidal forests** because they grow in coastal areas influenced by ocean tides. • **Coastal deltas** — mangroves thrive where silt and mud accumulate and saline tidal water regularly floods the area. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Taiga: boreal coniferous forests of cold regions; Monsoon Forests: Tropical Deciduous; Thorn Forests: dry semi-arid inland regions.

Correct Answer: A. Sarpagandha

• **Sarpagandha = medicinal plant used to treat high blood pressure**, also known as Indian Snakeroot. • **Rauwolfia serpentina** — the scientific basis: its root bark yields reserpine, the active compound for blood pressure control. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Neem: antibacterial/antifungal uses, not specifically blood pressure; Tulsi: respiratory/immunity herb; Babool: gum and tannin source, not a BP drug.

Correct Answer: C. 3600 meters

• **Alpine vegetation = found generally above 3600 metres** in the Himalayas, consisting of silver fir, junipers, pines, and birches. • **Stunted trees near snowline** — as altitude rises further, trees become dwarfed and transition into shrubs and mosses. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 2000 m: wet temperate forest zone; 1000 m: montane/subtropical forests; 500 m: foothills zone with no alpine vegetation.

Correct Answer: B. The Islands

• **Andaman and Nicobar Islands = highest percentage of forest cover** among all Indian regions due to tropical climate. • **Northeastern states also rank high** — states like Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have high forest cover percentages. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Plains: heavily cultivated, low forest cover; Desert: sparse scrub; Plateaus: mixed land use with moderate forest cover.

Correct Answer: A. Deciduous Forests

• **Tendu leaves = collected from Deciduous forests**, used for making traditional Indian bidis. • **Livelihood for millions of tribals** — collection of tendu leaves is a major forest-based occupation in central India. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Alpine Forests: too cold for tendu; Evergreen Forests: dense humid, not typical tendu zone; Desert Vegetation: no tendu trees grow in arid zones.

Correct Answer: C. Broad, thin leaves

• **Broad, thin leaves = NOT a feature of xerophytic plants** in thorn forests; this trait belongs to humid evergreen forest plants. • **Small/needle-like leaves** — the actual adaptation of xerophytes to minimize water loss through transpiration. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Small leaves: correct xerophyte trait; Long roots: correct, to reach deep moisture; Thorny branches: correct xerophyte defence and adaptation.

Correct Answer: C. Tropical Moist Forests

• **Bamboo and Canes = found in Tropical Moist forests** of northeastern India and the Western Ghats. • **Fast-growing plants** — bamboo in particular grows extremely rapidly and has immense economic utility for local communities. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Alpine Meadows: too cold/high for bamboo; Dry Thorn Forests: too arid; Tundra: extreme cold zone, no tropical plants.