Project Matheran – Flora Walk report 27-01-2012: On 27th Jan., three of us walked/trekked from Matheran to Neral station and observed the list of floral species, attached herewith. Many species (Apprx 25-30) are still to be IDed and many species we left, unphotographed, because of lack of academic knowledge and resources. Anyhow, that is what inspiring us to move a mile ahead and get the species properly documented and observed.

Date

27-01-2012

Trek Area

Dastoori – Neral

Habitat

Hill slope, sparse forest

GPS Readings

NA

Start Time

08.00AM

End Time

06.00PM

Weather type

Dry & humid

Visibility

Good

Min. Alt

114Mtrs MSL

Max. Alt

748 Mtrs MSL

Trail Length

16 Kms

Status of Area

Non-PA, ESA

Min. Temp.

21 Degree C

Max. Temp.

31 Degree C

Observers

Rajesh Sachdev, Saurabh Gokhale & Mandar Sawant

Species

Habit

Abundance

Altitude

Micro Habitat

Ceiba pentandra

Tree

<10

<200 Mtrs

Near habitation

Bombax ceiba

Tree

<20

Throughout

Slope

Callicarpa tomentosa

Tree

1

500 Mtrs

Slope

Butea monosperma

Tree

5

<200 mtrs

Slope

Radermachera xylocarpa

Tree

3

650 Mtrs

Slope

Memecylon umbellatum

Tree

10

700 Mtrs

Open forest

Wrightia tinctoria

Tree

1

200 Mtrs

Slope

Cassia fistula

Tree

1

400 Mtrs

Slope

Bombax insigne

Tree

1

220 Mtrs

Slope

Streculia urens

Tree

<25

<400 Mtrs

Slope

Dendrophtoe falcate

Shrub

1

450 Mtrs

Slope

Colebrookea oppositifolia

Shrub

10

700-600 Mtrs

Slope

Woodfordia fruiticosa

Shrub

2

400 & 200 Mtrs

Slope

Holarrhena pubescens

Shrub

5

<200 Mtrs

Slope

Mackenziea integrifolia

Shrub

1

700 Mtrs

Slope

Urena lobata

Shrub

<50

<500 Mtrs

Slope

Flemingia strobilifera

Shrub

<10

700 – 600 Mtrs

Slope

Vernonia divergens

Shrub

<25

<500 Mtrs

Slope

Calotropis gigantean

Shrub

<25

<300 Mtrs

Slope

Lantana camara

Shrub

<25

<150 Mtrs

Slope

Dicliptera foetida

Herb

<10

700-600 Mtrs

Slope

Cyathocline Purpurea

Herb

<50

<500 Mtrs

Slope

Exacum petiolare

Herb

1

700 Mtrs

Slope

Hygrophila serpyllum

Herb

Several

Throughout

Slope

Celosia argentea

Herb

5

<300 Mtrs

Slope

Smithia senstivia

Herb

4

<200 Mtrs

Slope

Canscora diffusa

Herb

Several

Throughout

Slope

Trema Orientalis

Tree

4

700-600 Mtrs

Slope

Cynarospermum asperrimum

Herb

5

600-500 Mtrs

Slope

Hibiscus hirtus

Herb

4

400-300 Mtrs

Slope

Pogostemon benghalensis

Herb

<25

700-500 Mtrs

Slope

Eranthemus roseum

Herb

Several

700-400 Mtrs

Slope

Haplanthodes neilgherryensis

Herb

<10

500-400 Mtrs

Slope

Haplanthodes verticillata

Herb

3

500-400 Mtrs

Slope

Hemigraphis latebrosa

Herb

10

500-400 Mtrs

Slope

Blumea lacera

Herb

Several

Throughout

Slope

Argemone Mexicana

Herb

<100

<300 Mtrs

Slope & Plains

Xantolis tomentosa

Tree

5

600-500 Mtrs

Slope

Terminalia elliptica

Tree

2

600-500 Mtrs

Slope

Acacia auriculiformis

Tree

Several

< 500 Mtrs

Slope

Sterculia guttata

Tree

5

>500 Mtrs

Slope

Ziziphus mauritiana

Tree

1

200 Mtrs

Slope

Solanum anguivi

Shrub

2

>600 Mtrs

Slope

Caesalpinia bonduc

Climber

2

<500 Mtrs

Slope

Gynura nitida

Herb

<25

Throughout

Slope

Ixora brachiata

Tree

2

700-600 Mtrs

Slope

Sphaeranthus paniculata

Herb

<10

400-300 Mtrs

Slope

Sclerocarpus africanus

Herb

1

400Mtrs

Slope

Mallotus philippensis

Tree

4

<500 Mtrs

Slope


Wonderful initiative,
So the flora walks have started.
Our Karnataka Flora walk will happen in mid Feb.
Will update all of you about our program.


Thanks for encouragement sir……finally we have started the documentation and have got fantastic field team…with individual interests in birding/flora/butterfly etc…..