Q.16 Teak is a dominant tree species of which of the following types of forests in India?
1. Tropical moist deciduous forest
2. Tropical thorn deciduous forest
3. Tropical Rain Forest
4. Temperate forest with grass lands
Teak Dominates Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests in India
Teak (Tectona grandis) thrives as the primary species in India’s tropical moist deciduous forests, which receive 100-200 cm annual rainfall. The correct answer is 1. Tropical moist deciduous forest.
Correct Answer
Tropical moist deciduous forests, found in states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and along the Eastern Ghats and Himalayan foothills, feature teak as the climax dominant species alongside sal, shisham, and hurra. These forests shed leaves seasonally in dry periods, supporting teak’s commercial timber value in rainfall zones of 100-200 cm.
Option Explanations
1. Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest (Correct)
Teak forms pure stands in moist deciduous forests of central and southern India (Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka), with associates like bamboo, mahua, and sandalwood in 80-90% humidity zones.
2. Tropical Thorn Deciduous Forest (Incorrect)
Thorn forests in arid regions (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu rain-shadow areas <70 cm rainfall) host acacia, prosopis, and capparis; teak requires more moisture and absent here.
3. Tropical Rain Forest (Incorrect)
Evergreen rain forests (>200 cm rainfall) in Western Ghats, Northeast India feature rosewood, ebony, mahogany, and dipterocarps; teak cannot compete in high humidity perma-green conditions.
4. Temperate Forest with Grasslands (Incorrect)
Temperate forests in Himalayas (oak, pine, deodar) and grasslands (shola) lack teak, which is tropical and deciduous, not adapted to cold climates above 1500m elevation.
