Kerala, a state nestled in the southern reaches of the Western Ghats in India, proudly embodies extraordinary bio-geographic significance. Here, an astonishing 95% of the Western Ghats’ flowering plants and 90% of its vertebrate fauna find their sanctuary, characterised by remarkable levels of uniqueness. The varied topography and microclimates of Kerala play an important role in nurturing this vast biodiversity. From lush forests to tranquil backwaters, each ecosystem contributes to the medley of life, fostering a harmonious balance.
These interconnected eco-complexes, shaped by the intricate interplay of climate, geography and species interactions, continually evolve, presenting a dynamic tableau of nature’s wonders. Recognising and comprehending the ever-changing flora and fauna of Kerala is paramount for effective conservation and management efforts. By exploring and understanding into the composition of this vibrant ecosystem, we can ensure its preservation for generations to come.
Please click here to find a compilation of Kerala’s most significant plant species.
Kerala, nestled in the lush southwest of India, is renowned not only for its breathtaking landscapes but also for its remarkable plant diversity. The State’s varied terrain, abundant rainfall and warm climate have fostered an incredible array of plants, earning it the well-deserved title of ‘Botanical Paradise.’
The State, located on the windy side of the southern Western Ghats, is super important for nature. It’s home to almost all the flowering plants and most of the animals found in the Western Ghats. These plants and animals are special because they’re mostly found only here. This richness comes from Kerala’s different landscapes and climates.
In Kerala, you’ll find an amazing mix of plants and animals, big and small, each with its own unique features. From tiny plants to tall trees and from simple creatures to big mammals, they all live together in a balanced way, which we call the “balance of nature.”
These different communities, called eco-complexes, change over time and space. This happens because of weather, soil, geography and how plants and animals interact. The most important parts of this natural balance are the plants and animals. To keep this balance safe, we need to understand them well and take care of them.
FOREST FLORA
Trees
Forests are a defining feature of the landscape, sprawling across diverse terrains. They encompass everything from steep ridges to gentle foothills, and from ravines and valleys to plains. These areas are crisscrossed by streams and rivers, providing a safe haven for wildlife.
One of the most remarkable aspects of a forest is its plant community. This intricate system is composed of a multitude of plants, each with varying ages, sizes, shapes, and characteristics. The natural forests of Kerala are a prime example, boasting rich biodiversity. Lush vegetation thrives here due to the heterogeneous environmental conditions, creating a dense forest cover.
Unlike some other regions, Kerala’s forests haven’t been divided into smaller management units. Instead, divisions are based on administrative and protection needs, considering factors like size, vulnerability to illegal activity, and natural features like ridges and streams. This means each unit, whether a beat, section, or range, reflects a similar landscape and vegetation composition. They all contain natural forests of various types, along with man-made plantations.
The specific type of vegetation that flourishes in a particular location depends on various environmental factors. Climate, including temperature variations, rainfall patterns and seasonal moisture levels, all play a significant role. Additionally, the soil’s properties, such as depth, fertility and moisture retention capacity, influence plant growth and development. Geographical features like altitude, slope and aspect also contribute by creating variations in climate and soil conditions. Even the presence or absence of human intervention can significantly impact vegetation.
In essence, the local environmental factors determine a forest’s characteristics, such as its overall appearance, species diversity, plant composition, layering, biomass production and seasonal changes. The varied forest types within Kerala are a result of these diverse local factors influencing different areas.
Kerala is blessed with vast expanse of natural forests, comprising evergreen, semi‐evergreen and deciduous type of forests. The type of forest is the resultant reconciliation of the floristic inheritance of the locality with the habitat. A forest type can be defined as a unit of vegetation that possesses broad characteristics in physiognomy and structure, sufficiently pronounced to permit its differentiation from other such units. Usually, a forest type will be described with reference to its geographical location, climatic and edaphic features, composition and condition. For ascertaining the type of forest, the vegetation present at the time being only is considered, without taking in to account the influence of physiographic, edaphic, and biotic factors up on it. As per the ‘Revised Classification of the Forest Types of India’ by Harry. G. Champion and S. K. Seth (1968), the main forest types met with in this tract are:
(1) ‐ West Coast Tropical Evergreen Forests – (1A/C4)
(2) ‐ Southern Hilltop Tropical Evergreen Forests – (1A/C3)
(3) ‐ West Coast Semi evergreen Forests ‐ (2A/C2)
(4) ‐ Southern Moist Mixed Deciduous Forests – (3A/C2)
(5) ‐ Wet Reed Brakes, Bamboo Brakes, Cane Brakes and Grass Lands
Bamboos
Kerala is blessed with a valuable natural resource: bamboo. Often referred to as ‘Green Gold’ or ‘Poor Man’s Timber’ due to its versatility, bamboo plays a significant role in the state’s economy and ecology.
These fast-growing plants are widely used in industries like pulp, paper and rayon production. Additionally, they are a crucial resource for the cottage industry sector, providing materials for various products.
Unfortunately, past practices involved large-scale extraction of bamboos from easily accessible areas to meet industrial demands. Bamboo can be found in varying densities throughout Kerala’s natural forests. They typically grow in dense clusters, forming an important food source for elephants. The sustainable management of these valuable resources is crucial to ensure their continued availability for future generations.
Cane
Cane, also known as rattan, is a valuable but threatened resource in Kerala. It’s a highly sought-after material for furniture, handicrafts and utensils due to its unique combination of strength, light weight and flexibility. This popularity has unfortunately led to it’s over exploitation.
To ensure the future availability of cane, protecting and expanding existing cane-growing areas is crucial. Unlike bamboo, cane doesn’t grow in large, dense patches here. Instead, it thrives in scattered clusters along damp hillsides and stream banks.
Several cane species with distinct characteristics and uses can be found in Kerala. Calamus gamblei, known as Pacha Chooral, is a medium-sized climbing cane used for furniture and umbrella handles. Calamus hookerianus (Veli Chooral) is another variety used in basket weaving and furniture making. Calamus rotang (Chooral) is also utilised for furniture and basket weaving. Calamus thawitesii (ThadiyanChooral) is particularly valued for its size and strength, making it ideal for furniture construction. There’s also Calamus travancoricus (Ari Chooral), a strong yet slender cane used in handicrafts and furniture. Calamus vattayilarenuka (VattayilaChooral) is a long and relatively thick cane with various applications. Beyond these common species, Kerala boasts other cane varieties like C. brandisii (Kutti Chooral) and Calamus delessertianus (OttamoodanChooral) which can be found at higher elevations.
The sustainable management of cane resources is vital for two main reasons. Firstly, it ensures the continued availability of this valuable material for future generations. Secondly, it safeguards the livelihoods of those who rely on cane for their traditional crafts.
Grasslands
Grasslands are another vital component of Kerala’s diverse landscape. These areas range in size from small patches to expansive areas exceeding 30 hectares and play an important ecological role.
Most grasslands experience dry winds blowing from the east and receive less rainfall compared to other areas, making it less suitable for dense forests. Similarly, the tops of the main ridges are capped with grassy and herbaceous vegetation. These grasslands are considered a stable sub-climax stage of vegetation, meaning they have adapted to the specific environmental conditions, particularly the soil properties and represent a long-term balance with the environment.
Beyond the prominent hilltop grasslands, smaller patches can also be found scattered within deciduous forests and plantations, especially in areas with slightly swampy ground.
The main grass species found here are the following. (1) ‐ Cymbopogon polyneuros, (2) ‐ Saccharum spontaneum, (3) ‐Oplismanus composites, (4) ‐ Themedatriandra, (5)‐ Pennisetum polystachyum, (6)‐ Heteropogoncontortus, (7)‐Cynodondactylon, (8)‐Arundinella purpurea, (9) ‐ Cymbopogon citratus, (10) ‐ Eleusine indica, (11) ‐ Panicum javanicum, (12) ‐Ischaemum indicum, (13) ‐ Typha elephantiana etc.
Rare and interesting plant species
- Cycas circinalis.(Eentha Pana‐ Kalanga) : This unique plant resembles a large fern, with a short, stout trunk and a crown of feathery leaves at the top. Unlike most trees, it doesn’t branch out but may sometimes have a single split forming two main stems like pillars. Cycas circinalis is a living link to the past, belonging to a group of ancient plants called gymnosperms, which produce naked seeds (unlike flowering plants). It’s the sole representative of the Cycadales order, making it a true botanical oddity. Male plants produce cones containing pollen, while female plants bear cones that develop into seeds. These seeds are traditionally consumed as food in some areas. Cycas circinalis can be found growing in the lower hills of Kerala.
- Pinangadicksonii (Kana Kamuku): This palm is a near perfect lookalike of the areca nut tree. Found in evergreen forests at elevations up to 1000 meters, it thrives in rocky crevices near constantly flowing springs. The fruits of this endangered species are traditionally chewed by tribal communities.
- Phoenix sylvestris (Nilan Thengu): Belonging to the Palmae family, this palm is found near the grassy patches. It has a short, unbranched stem with a crown of leaves at the top. The leaflets near the base are modified into sharp thorns. Like many other plants, separate male and female trees exist for this species. Toddy, a local beverage, can be extracted by tapping the unopened flower cluster.
- Arenga wightii (KattuThengu): Another member of the Palmae family, KattuThengu bears leaves similar to a coconut tree. Growing in clusters within damp areas of evergreen forests up to 1000 meters in elevation, these palms can have leaves reaching impressive lengths of 5 to 8 meters. Separate male and female trees exist for this species as well. The sweet toddy extracted by tapping the flower stalk can be fermented into an alcoholic drink. Interestingly, this palm dies after its fruits mature. The foliage provides a tasty treat for elephants and these palms can be found in the natural forests.
- Wrightia tinctoria (Dhanta Pala): Unlike most references describing this tree as small, Kerala boasts large tree. This tree is known for its medicinal value.
- Oxytenantherabourdillonii (Arambu): This rare endemic bamboo species is found only in Kerala’s hilly tracts between 900 and 1500 meters in elevation. It’s a unique straggling bamboo with sparse clumps and hollow culms with very long internodes. The time between flowering cycles for this bamboo is said to be exceptionally long.
- Gloriossa superba (Menthonni): This beautiful herb thrives along stream banks and in the dense undergrowth of Kerala’s moist deciduous forests. The slender, fleshy stem can reach up to 6 meters in length and bears numerous branches. The leaf tips are modified into tendrils that help the plant climb on nearby vegetation or hedges. Gloriossa superba is particularly admired for its showy flowers, which come in vibrant scarlet or crimson shades. Beyond its beauty, this plant also holds medicinal value. The tubers are used in traditional treatments for chronic ulcers and piles due to the presence of the alkaloid colchicine. However, it’s important to note that colchicine is poisonous in high doses. Interestingly, colchicine plays a vital role in biotechnology for inducing polyploidy in plants, a process used in genetic manipulation.
- Podocarpus wallichianus (Nirambali): This rare and endangered tree belongs to the Coniferae family and can be found in the northeastern boundary of the forest tract. It’s a slow-growing tree that can reach up to 30 meters in height. The narrow, brown trunk has tiny projections, giving a rough appearance to young trees. The taproot system is well-branched in mature trees, but lacks branching in seedlings. The branching pattern is opposite in younger stages and changes to alternate branching as the tree matures. The lower portion of the trunk is free of branches and the leaves resemble phylloclades. These leathery, lanceolate leaves have multiple veins and are arranged in an opposite or sub-opposite pattern, with lengths ranging from 13 to 18 centimeters.