Nepal
Flora (Flowers) & Trees
There are over 6500 species of trees, bushes and flowers
In the temperate areas flowers start blooming when winter
ends. The only time that flowers really bloom in the temperate and
alpine area is during the monsoon season. During this time the landscape
abound with brightly colored flowers. In the higher elevation valleys
there are buttercups, polygonums, scrophs, mints, composites and cinquefoils.
In the alpine areas there are junipers, saxifrages, primulas, rhododendrons,
contoneasters and ephedras.
In the subtropics flowers bloom as the temperature gets
warmer.
The main flower season is March and April when the rhododendrons
are in their full glory. The large white magnolias, orchids, lavender
primuds, and blue irises. There are also flowers on the bushes.
In western Nepal the best time to see flowers is July and August.
It gets less rain than the rest of Nepal, so it is more comfortable
to visit during the monsoon than other places. At lower elevation
there are orchids, roses, campanlas, impatiens, anemones, corydalis
and edelweiss. In the alpine areas there are geraniums, saxifrages
proliferate, poppies, larkspurs and sediums.
In the Himalaya area there are astragalus, Ionicera
(from honeysuckle family) and caragana.
Just after the monsoon in October and November most of the flowers
are gone. Some flowers may be seen in the subtropical areas such as
mauve osbeckia, yellow St John’s wort and pink luculia. Also
there are reds flowers on barberry bushes, flowers on the cherry trees
and the yellow of the withering maples. In the temperate areas there
are blue gentians.
There are over 300 types of orchids in Nepal.
Eupatorium is called ban mara or “death to the forest”
by the Nepalis. It is a red-stemmed daisy that has heart-shaped leaves.
It is a native of South America that was introduced to Nepal in the19th
century. It is spread all over the subtropical and temperate areas.
It takes over deforested areas and is not eaten by animal, not even
goats. It is seen as a sign of environmental decline.
Trees
Two tree are often seen the banyan and pipal tree. They are considered
very holy and are often found near temples, holy place and rest areas
along walking routes. Banyan trees have hanging roots and elliptical
leaves. They can often been huge as the roots connect and different
inter-connecting trunks may grow.
Pipal have heart-shared leaves. The pipal is considered
holy by both Hindus and Buddhist. It is believed that the Buddha attained
enlightenment under a pipal tree. Hindus believe that the banyan tree
to be an embodiment of Laksmi, the goddess of fortune and consort
of Lord Vishnu. The pipal is seen as the embodiment of Lord Narayan
(Vishnu).
Bamboo is seen throughout Nepal. Giant bamboo is seen
in the tropics and dwarf bamboo in the temperate areas. The grass
species is used for building and for making baskets.
Vegetation
Nepal is found at a southern point, equal to central Florida. Species
that are found in tropical area are found in Nepal. Because of its
high elevation species found in Europe are also found in Nepal.
Depending on the slope of a hill or mountain, the climate and vegetation
can change. The south and east slopes get more sun and therefore are
drier. The north and west faces receive less sun and are more rain
and have a higher selection of vegetation.
At elevation increases so also does rainfall up to 2700m.
After 2700m there is almost no rain and crop can not grow above this
level. As the elevation increases the temperature decreases which
influence vegetation.
It rains more in eastern Nepal than the west. East of
the Kali Gandaki Valley species are typically those found in wet forests.
In the west, species are those are found to exist in drier area.
Tropical Zone
The main tree to be found at this level is the Sal (shorea robusta),
a semideciduous hardwood. It is found all over Nepal. It has wide
leaves that are used to make plates. It is wood is used in building.
There are also rosewood and acacia trees, and areas of high elephant
grass. The grass is burned off in the winter, or it would be taken
over by the sal forest.
The red silk cotton has red flowers in the spring. From
these trees comes a cotton (kapok) that is used to stuff pillows and
mattresses. When younger these trees have thorny trunks and when older
they are smooth.
Subtropical Zone (1000m to 2000m)
The main vegetation here is the chesnut and tea species. Chestnut
flower in the fall and the tea species has white flowers in the late
spring.
In the west is found the chir pine, which has long needles in three
bundles. They can also be found in the east in the dryer southern
slope areas.
Lower Temperate Zone (1500m to 2600m)
The main species in this area is evergreen oak. Birch and Alder can
be found around waterways.
In western Nepal, found usually on the west and north faces are maple,
walnut and horse chestnut. There are many blue-pine forests in western
Nepal, found mainly on south faces. It has shorter needles (in bundles
of five) than the chir pine and it has long cones.
Upper Temperate Zone (2500m to 4000m)
There are two types of evergreen oak that are found here, with two
different types of leaves. Mainly found are rhododendron forests with
fir and hemlock interspersed. There are over 30 species of rhododendron
in Nepal. The Rhododendron arboreum is the national flower. It has
different colors from white to red.
In the west there are blue pine, with spruce and fir. In the east
there is blue pine, hemlocks, fers and yews. Also found is forests
of maple and laurel.
Subalpine Zone (3000m to 4000m)
East of the Kali Gandaki only birch is the only tree found up to the
tree line, and in some area there are only rhododendron bushes and
bamboo. In the west there are silver fir, birch and oak. In dry areas
juniper can be found up to the tree line.
Forest are found higher up in western Nepal than in the rest of the
country because it does not rain as much.
Apline Zone (4000m to snow line)
Under the toughest wild flowers can survive here because of the extremely
cold temperature and often lack of rain. Plants often have thick underground
stems. Much of the vegetation to survive is of the type found in the
Tibetan plateau. The stellara can exist above 5500m.
