Satpura Tiger Reserve – The Flora

Satpura Tiger Reserve – The Flora

The tiger reserve comprises of moist mixed deciduous forests. The reserve is home to over 1300 species of plants. The reserve has around 62 trees species, 30 small tree species, 58 shrubs species, 32 climber species and almost 64 grass species. Twenty-six species of the Himalayan region and 42 species of Nilgiri areas are found in this reserve. Hence, this reserve is considered as the northern extremity of Western Ghats. Some of the species common to Satpura and Himalayas are Asterella khasiana, Bambusa polymorpha, Rubus ellipticus, Berberis asiatica. Some of the species common to Satpura and Western Ghats are, Cochlospermum religiosum, Pterocarpus santilenus (Red sandal).

Some of the extremely rare and endangered species of flora are also found here. The endemic and endangered species of plants found in the reserve are Ficus cupulata Haines, Jasminum brevipetiolatum Duthie, Alsophila balakrishnanii Dixit, Psilotum nudum (L)P. Beauv, Leptochilus lanceolatus Fee, Angiopteris helferiana Presl, Eriocaulon polyceohalatum Hook, Eriocaulon matrianum Wall, Platygyriella aurea (Schwaegr)Buck, Leucoloma amoene-virens Mitt., Meiothecium microcarpum (Hook) Mitt., Campylopus gracillis (mitt) A.Jaegar, Dicranella leptoneura Dixon, Fissidens asperisetus var andamanensis, Isoetespanchananii Pant and Srivast., Isoetes pantii Goswami and Arya, Leucas pachmarhiensis.

Freshwater red Alga Batrecospermummoniliforme is also recorded at nominated property. Two species of tree ferns Cythea gigantea and Cythea spinulosa are also found in the Pachmarhi part of Satpura Tiger Reserve. Saal is the most prominent flora of this reserve which is found in the Pachmarhi plateau. The lower plains on the northern side of the reserve consist of teak forest on basaltic traps. Many species like Melastoma malabathricum, Murraya paniculata, Holmskioldia senguinea, Blumea lanceolaria, and Sophora interrupta are found only in this reserve. The other trees found in the reserve are tendu, mahua (Indian butter-tree), bel (stone-apple), aonla, and bamboos.

It also has important medicinal plants and rare endemic plants from the genus Psilotum, Cyathea, Osmunda, Lycopodium, and Lygodium. The tiger reserve has about 10% of the area which is classified as grasslands including natural blanks on Pachmarhi plateau, anthropogenic grassland due to relocation of villages and draw down areas of Tawa reservoir. These grasslands are named Neemghan, Madai, Keria, Dhain, and Geetkheda. In addition to these grasslands, few new grasslands have been created due to the relocation of 23 villages from the core area of the reserve.