Consider the following trees:Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)Mahua (Madhuca indica)Teak (Tectona

Question

Consider the following trees:Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)Mahua (Madhuca indica)Teak (Tectona grandis)How many of the above are deciduous trees?

Accepted Answer

Tropical Deciduous Forests: A deciduous forest is a biome dominated by deciduous trees which lose their leaves seasonally. These are the most widespread forests in India. They are also called the monsoon forests. They spread over regions which receive rainfall between 70-200 cm.On the basis of the availability of water, these forests are further divided into moist and dry deciduous.Moist Deciduous Forests: These forests are more pronounced in the regions which record rainfall between 100-200 cm. They are found in the northeastern states along the foothills of Himalayas, eastern slopes of the Western Ghats and Odisha. The main species of these forests include:Teak (Tectona grandis)salshishamhurramahua (Madhuca indica)amlasemulkusumsandalwoodHence options 2 and 3 are correct.Dry Deciduous Forests: These forests cover vast areas of the country, where rainfall ranges between 70-100 cm. On the wetter margins, it has a transition to the moist deciduous, while on the drier margins to thorn forests. These forests are found in rainier areas of the Peninsula and the plains of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In the higher rainfall regions of the Peninsular plateau and the northern Indian plain, these forests have a parkland landscape with open stretches in which teak and other trees interspersed with patches of grass are common. As the dry season begins, the trees shed their leaves completely and the forest appears like a vast grassland with naked trees all around. Common trees of these forests include:TendupalasamaltasbelkhairaxlewoodIn the western and southern part of Rajasthan, vegetation cover is very scanty due to low rainfall and overgrazing.Jackfruit: (Artocarpus heterophyllus), an evergreen tree (family Moraceae) native to tropical Asia and widely grown throughout the wetland tropics for its large fruits and durable wood. It is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world, reaching up to 60 cm (about 2 feet) long and weighing up to 18 kg (about 40 pounds). Hence option 1 is not correct.Hence option (b) is the correct answer.Source Citation: NCERT: India Physical Environment Class XI