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The primary vegetation of Vallanadu Blackbuck Sanctuary are Scrub forests. Scrub forests are characterized by having mild winters with abundant rainfall, followed by dry summers. The plant life remains inactive during the dry summer months. The landscape consist of short, drought resistant pine or scrub oak trees that grow 1 to 3 meters tall. Both deciduous and evergreen trees are found in scrub forests.
Scrub forests are primarily located near the equator in very arid regions like some parts of South India.
The plant species found in scrub forests of Vallanadu Blackbuck Sanctuary vary. However, the climate and soil conditions are similar in scrub forests throughout India.
Many of the plant species in scrub forests have adapted to survive in drought and fire. These plants have hard, waxy leaves that help the plant retain moisture.
Many of the plant species survive and even flourish after a fire. There are minerals present in the aboveground parts of plants that are released during a fire. New plant growth that crop up after a fire thrives on this mineral source, allowing the vegetation to regenerate.
Much of the Tamil Nadu Sanctuaries within the tropical climate experiences hot and humid weather. There is abundant rainfall due to the active vertical uplift of air that takes place there, and during certain periods, thunderstorms can occur every day. Nevertheless, this belt of forests still receives considerable sunshine, and with the excessive rainfall, provides ideal growing conditions for luxuriant vegetation.
Pines are evergreen. The bark pines is thick and scaly. The branches are produced in a tight spiral. Many pines produce just one coil of branches each year, from buds at the tip of the new shoot, but others produce two or more whorls of branches per year. The new spring shoots are light-colored and point upward at first, then later darken and spread outward. These offer foresters of the Tamil Nadu Sanctuaries a means to evaluate fertility of the soil and strength of the trees.
Dry deciduous forest
Dry deciduous forests are found in some parts of India including Kalakkadu Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. It is also found in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The common trees are the sal, a variety of acacia, and bamboo
Wet Evergreen Forests
Are found in the south of India along the Western Ghats and the Nicobar and Andaman Islands. Tall, straight evergreen trees characterize it. These trees often rise to a great height before they open out. The most common trees that are found here are the Jackfruit, Betel Nut Palm, Jamun and Mangoes. The shrubs cover the layer closer to the ground, followed by the short structured trees and then the tall variety. Beautiful fern and varieties of orchids grow on the trunks of the trees
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