Geophytes of northern Western Ghats (Sahyadri Ranges) of India: a checklist

By

Gaikwad, Sayajirao
Gore, Ramchandra
Garad, Krushnadeoray
Gaikwad, Sampatrao
Mulani, Ramjan

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2015-1-13

Original Publication

Check list : journal of species lists and distribution

Volume

11

Series / Issue

Issue: 1

Pages

1543--16

Subjects

diversity , endemism , geophytes , life-forms , Western Ghats

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

[São Paulo, Brazil] Luís Felipe Toledo 2005-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15560/11.1.1543

 

Abstract

The geophytes in the northern Western Ghats are a significant component of the herbaceous flora, both in terms of abundance and diversity, and comprise approximately 10% of plant species. About 186 geophytic taxa were here recorded from northern Western Ghats of India during the present work. Of them, 62 geophytes are known only from northern Western Ghats. At least 22 plant families exhibit this life form. In the study region, geophytes have adapted to a monsoon seasonality. They sprout new foliage with the onset of monsoon rain in June and complete their life cycle in October when monsoon rains halt. Many of them produce flowers during the vegetative growing season but some charismatically flowers in summer season (April–May), often without leaves. A few taxa have abandoned their geophytic habit and grow in seasonal water bodies, and possess leaves without stomata and non-buoyant seeds.