J Integr Plant Biol. ›› 1981, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (3): -.

• Research Articles •    

A Preliminary study on the Vertical Belts of Vegetation of the Eastern Himalayas

Zheng Du and Chen Wei-lie   

Abstract: The horizontal differentiation of vegetation is very conspicuous, on both the south and the north slopes of the Himalayas. The Eastern Himalayas are the most humid part of the mountain system, being mainly covered by forests. The tropieal forest stretches the south slope of the mountain as far north as 29˚ N, mueh beyond the ordinary boundary of tropieal forest in other parts of the world. On the north slope, the vegetation shows a transition from forest to steppe. In general, 4 vertical spectra of vegetation zones may be recognized in tile Eastern Himalayas with two on either slope. On the south the basic belts of the spectra are respeetively (1) tropical evergreen rainforest plus semievergreen rainforest (humid) and (2) tropical rainforest plus monsoon deciduous forest (subhumid). On the north, the respective basic belts are (3) montane needle and broad-leaf mixed forest (subhumid) and (4) montane shrubby steppe (semiarid). The 4 altogether indicate the regional differentiation of vegetation in the Eastern Himalayas, according to different climatic conditions.

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