Previous Year Question
In India, in which one of the following types of forests is teak a dominant tree species?
Tropical moist deciduous forest
Tropical rain forest
Tropical thorn scrub forest
Temperate forest with grasslands
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Solution
The scientific name of teak is Tectona grandis. It is a tall, broad-leaved deciduous tree which sheds its leaves during the dry period.
Teak is a dominant or principal tree species of tropical moist deciduous forests. These forests generally receive approximately 100–200 cm of annual rainfall and experience a distinct dry season.
They are comparatively less dense than evergreen forests. During the summer dry period, trees may shed their leaves for about six to eight weeks, thereby reducing water loss through transpiration.
Teak-dominated forests are mainly found in central and Peninsular India, including parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Telangana.
Teak may occur with bamboo, haldu, shisham, khair, tendu, mahua and bija. Its timber is strong, durable, termite-resistant and dimensionally stable, making it valuable for furniture, construction and shipbuilding.
Why are the other options incorrect?
(b) Tropical rain forest: These forests have year-round heavy rainfall, dense multi-layered vegetation and very high species diversity. Evergreen trees such as ebony, mahogany and rosewood are characteristic; teak is not the dominant species.
(c) Tropical thorn scrub forest: These occur in arid and semi-arid areas with low rainfall and are dominated by babul, khejri, ber and cactus-like vegetation.
(d) Temperate forest with grasslands: These are associated with temperate climates or higher elevations and contain species such as oak, deodar, fir and pine. Teak is a tropical tree.