Flora

Flora of a place includes the different species of plant life. West Bengal is full of nature's bounty and the plant life and animal life of this eastern state of India are rich and varied. The diversity of nature in West Bengal depends basically on three factors and these are the location, adequate rainfall and the climate.

The flora in the state of West Bengal is classified according to the physiographic regions. In the north of the state lies the mountainous type of forestry, including temperate and tropical forests. Deciduous forest is usually found in the plateau region. The Sunderban area has mangrove forest cover.

The tropical evergreen forests of the north are seen at an altitude below 1000 meter and from the altitude of 1000 meter and above a forest cover of sub tropical trees like Cedrela, different varieties of Laurel and Bamboo are found. Temperate forests consist of trees like Conifer, Oak and Rhodendrons. But for the purpose of tea plantation, the some of the forest area has been cleared. The important trees of the hilly region are the Birch, Beech and Deodars. On the moist slopes of the hilly terrain orchids and moss are found to grow in abundance. On higher altitudes small bushes and flowering plants grow. In the foothills of Himalaya, protected forest cover is found. The flora of this region is mainly of moist deciduous type of which, Sal is the most popular variety. Shrubs and heavy undergrowth are found in these forest regions. The flora of West Bengal is different in the Sunderban region than the higher altitudes. Trees like Sundari and Garan are important trees of the Mangrove forest.