Andaman And Nicobar Islands: Flora
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An overview
District and Sessions Court/ Andaman and Nicobar Islands
These Islands are blessed with a unique' luxuriant evergreen tropical rainforest canopy, sheltering a mixed germ plasm bank, comprising of Indian, Myanmarese, Malaysian and endemic floral strain. So far, about 2200,varieties of plants have been recorded out of which 200 are endemic and 1300 do not occur in mainland India."
The South Andaman forests have a profuse growth of epiphytic vegetation, mostly ferns and orchids. The Middle Andamans harbours mostly moist deciduous forests. North Andamans is characterised by the wet evergreen type, with plenty of woody climbers. The north Nicobar Islands (including Car Nicobar and Battimalv) are marked by the complete absence of evergreen forests, while such forests form the dominant vegetation in the central and southern islands of the Nicobar group. Grasslands occur only in the Nicobars, and while deciduous forests are common in the Andamans, they are almost absent in the Nicobars". This atypical forest coverage is made-up of twelve types namely (1) Giant evergreen forest (2) Andamans tropical evergreen forest (3) Southern hilltop tropical evergreen forest (4) Cane brakes (5) Wet bamboo brakes (6) Andamans semi-evergreen forest (7) Andamans moist deciduous forest (8) Andamans secondary moist deciduous forest (9) Littoral forest (10) Mangrove forest (11) Brackish water mixed forest (12) Submontane hill valley swamp forest. The present forest coverage is claimed to be 86.2% of the total land area.
Details
Andaman and Nicobar Islands/ Prashasan
Abroma angusta Linn. (Devils cotton)
Devils cottonA large spreading shrub with fibrous bark and irritant hairs. The fibre from the bark makes a pliable and attractive rope which is used in fishing nets. The fresh viscid sap of the root bark is considered to be a valuable emenagogue and uterine tonic. The root has also been applied to treat itch. It occurs in South Andaman and Central Nicobars.
Baccaurea ramiflora Lour.
(Hindi: Khata phal, English: Rambai)
Khata phalIt is one of the medicinal plant very common in Andamans & popularly known as Kataphal amongst the Local inhabitants. Flowers are small and cream coloured. Fruits are orange yellow when ripe and used as cooling drink. Leaves help in digestion.
Couroupita guianensis Aubl.
(Bengali : Nagalingam, Hindi : Shivalingam, English : Cannon- ball tree)
NagalingamIt is believed that this species is introduced in these islands at the time of settlement or even before 7947 and are worshipped especially by the couples for attaining parenthood. The flowers are borne in much profusion and the fruits attain their maximum size like a ba". The curious arrangements of the stamens is apparently to ensure self-pollination.
Calophyllum inophyllum Linn.
(Alexandrian laurel - A common seashore tree)
common seashore treePopularly known as 'Poon' in Hindi. It is a shaddy littoral tree. Leaves shiny dark green Flowers marble white. Uses: Canoe making, Barks applied to swollen glands. Leaves used in Bone fracture. Resin used as tonic for Ulcers. Seed oil used in rheumatism Distribution: Galathea to Pygmalion point in Great Nicobar, Dugong Creek in Little Andaman, Neil Island, South Andaman & Middle Andaman.
Cyathea albosetaceae (Bedd.) Copel.(Tree Fern)
Tree FernA tree fern is some times used as a support for black pepper in the Nicobar Group of Islands and the pounded leaves are used on wounds and sores by the Nicobarese. It is endemic to Nicobars, restricted to Central and South Nicobars. It is a threatened species.
Cycas rumphii Miq.
Cycas rumphii Miq.A rare cycad. The leaves and fruits are cooked and eaten. In India, it is found in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. An elegant evergreen palm like tree. Nicobarese decorate the welcome gates by the entire leaves of the plant. The fruit when ripe turns to orange colour and is chopped into pieces by the Nicobarese and dried in sun for about a month, then grind into flour which is cooked with chopped coconut kernel and eaten as staple food. The fruit or seeds are applied to ulcers wound and skin diseases. It is a source of Ayurvedic drug, Vidari is used in heart disease as tonic.
Dillenia indica Linn. (Elephant apple)
Elephant appleIt is an evergreen tree found in the Indian land mass. The fruit is covered by fleshy calyx and the seed is covered by fleshy proteinacious aril which is used in curry, pickle and jelly preparations. The fruits are said to be relished by elephant and hence the name.
Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb.(Garjan)
Garjan
This species has been reported to occur in Andamans. A lofty evergreen tree. The wood is extensively used for internal construction work, making packing cases and wagon construction. An volatile oil is obtained from this tree, commonly known as garjan oil which is applied on ulcerated wounds. The bark is also a part of a compound mixture to treat toothache. Many other species of Dipterocarpus are found in these islands, which yield very useful timber and fuel wood.
Heritiera littoralis Dryander ex.W.Ait.
SundariCommonly known as 'Sundari'. The Sunderban is named after this plant. Nicobarese call it Kamaaeuot, Onges call it Moro. A littoral tree conspicuous with its huge buttress. The leaves are dark green above, silvery white beneath. The timber is chiefly employed in building boats, canoes, ships & wharfs, used for furniture and tool handles. The bark contains tannin. The Onge tribals of these Islands prepare a kind of tea from the leaves and seeds. The leaves are used by the Nicobarese for headache and body pain. It is very common mangroves along the sea shores of all the group of Islands.
Knema andamanica (warb.) de Wilde
Knema andamanicaThe tree is a source of ayurvedic drug Jatiphalam which is used in indigestion and diarrhoea, it is very common in the Forest of all the group of Islands. It is reported to be endemic to Bay islands.
Orophaea katschallica Kurz
(Onge-Toyongo, Nicobarese - Tapileialo)
Onge-ToyongoThe leaves of the shrub are chewed and the juice is smeared all over the body and taken internally in the process of honey collection by the Onges of Little Andaman Island. This is claimed as a repellent against honeybee stinging. It is endemic to the Bay islands and found in Little Andaman Island and all the groups of Nicobar.
Pandanus odoratissimus Linn.f.(Kewda)
KewdaThe male flowers are valued for their fragrance and used for the hair decoration & the extraction of kewda attar and kewda water are highly prized in Indian perfumery. It is very frequent in all the groups of Islands.
Parasitic plants
Septemeranthus
Shiv Sahay Singh, Jan 30, 2022: The Hindu
From: Shiv Sahay Singh, Jan 30, 2022: The Hindu
New genus of parasitic flowering plant discovered from Nicobar Islands
Septemeranthus partially depends on its host but also has leaves capable of photosynthesis
A new genus of a parasitic flowering plant has recently been discovered from the Nicobar group of islands. The genusSeptemeranthusgrows on the plant species Horsfieldia glabra(Blume) Warb. The parasitic flowering plants have a modified root structure spread on the stem of the tree and are anchored inside the bark of the host tree.
The plant was found on the periphery of the tropical forest in one of the biodiversity hotspots referred to as the Nicobar group of islands separated from the Andaman group of Islands by a wide gap of 160 km with heavy tidal flows.
Heart-shaped leaves
The genusSeptemeranthushas a distinct vegetative morphology, inflorescence architecture and floral characters.The leaves of the plant are heart-shaped with a very long tip and the ovary,fruit and seeds are ‘urceolate’ (earthen pot-shaped). The flowers have five persistent bracts having conspicuous margins. The name Septemeranthusis derived from the Latin word ‘septem’ meaning ‘seven’, referring to the arrangement of flowers.The details of the discovery were published in theJournal of Botanical Taxonomy and Geobotany Feddes Repertorium.The genus belongs to the family Loranthaceae, a hemi-parasite under the sandalwood order Santalales and is of widespread importance. Plants which are hemi-parasites are partially dependent on their host plants for nutrition.For instance, the newly discovered plant that derives nutrients from its hosts has green leaves capable of photosynthesis.Loranthaceae is currently represented by nine genera and are found all across the country.What makes the new genus unique is that it is endemic only to the Nicobar group of islands. Lal Ji Singh, Joint Director, Botanical Survey of India, who has discovered the genus, said, “During field studies, I found the birds consume viscous seeds of this new genus and seeds have potential of pseudo viviparous germination that deposit on the leaves and branches of their same plant which is already attached to host plants. After germination, the life cycle of the genus starts all over again.”
Hemi-parasites include are commonly referred to as mistletoes that contain 18 families, 160 genera and over 2,200 species.They need a host tree or shrub in order to thrive and exhibit a worldwide distribution in tropical as well as temperate habitats that evolved approximately five times in the order and are important in forest ecology, pathology and medicine. They play an important role as they provide food for frugivorous birds.In addition to Septemeranthus,four other genera on non-parasitic plants, Nicobariodendron(Hippocrateaceae),Pseudodiplospora (Rubiaceae),Pubistylis(Rubiaceae),Sphyranthera, (Euphorbiaceae) have also been discovered earlier from Nicobar group of islands, highlighting the ecological significance of the region. Recently a new species in the hemiparasitic family Loranthaceae,Dendrophthoe laljiihave also been discovered from the Nicobar group of islands.
TIMBER
Andaman Forest is abound in plethora of timber species numbering 200 or more, out of which about 30 varieties are considered to be commercial. Major commercial timber species are Gurjan (Dipterocarpus spp.) and Padauk (Pterocarpus dalbergioides). Ornamental wood such as
(1) Marble Wood (Diospyros marmorata) (
2) Padauk (Pterocarpus dalbergioides),
(3) Silver Grey (a special formation of wood in white chuglam)
(4) Chooi (Sageraea elliptical and
(5) Kokko (Albizzia lebbeck) are noted for their pronounced grain formation.
Padauk being steadier than teak is widely used for furniture making. Burr and the Buttress formation in Andaman Padauk are World famous for their exceptionally unique charm and figuring. Largest piece of Buttress known from Andaman was a dining table of 13'x 7'. The largest piece of Burr was again a dining table to seat eight persons at a time. The holy Rudraksha (Elaeocarps sphaericus) and aromatic Dhoop/Resin trees also occur here.
Vanilla andamanica Rolfe(Orchid)
OrchidThis climbing orchid is endemic to Andaman & Nicobar Islands, it has creamy white fragrant flowers. It is considered to be wild relative of Vanilla planifolia which is the source of 'Vanilla' essence, which is used for flavouring Ice creams, cakes etc.
Xylocarpus molluccensis (Lam.) Roem.
(Puzzle fruit)
Puzzle fruitThe fruit is a cure for elephantiasis. The seed kernels are bitter and it is used as tonic in relieving colic. The wood of the tree is used for making boats, house posts, furniture and wheel spokes. It is also suitable for second grade pencils. The plant parts contain high tannin.
See also
Andaman And Nicobar Islands: Fauna
Andaman And Nicobar Islands: Flora
Andaman And Nicobar Islands: Natural calamities
Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Parliamentary elections
Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Tribes
Census India 1931: The Population Problem in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
