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Jaya Vijayan. et al. / Journal of Science / Vol 4 / Issue 1 / 2014 / 50-54.
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Journal of Science
Botany
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TEMPERATE HIMALAYAN TREES: INTERESTING PLANTS FOR
LANDSCAPING THE BOTANICAL GARDENS
1
1
Jaya Vijayan, 1Ramachandran VS, 2Binu Thomas*
Department of Botany, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore – 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India.
2
PG Department of Botany, Deva Matha College, Kuravilangad, Kottayam-686 633, Kerala, India.
ABSTRACT
The present study resulted in the collection of 13 species of temperate himalayan trees spreading over 11 genera and
10 families. Among these 13 trees, 2 of them are gymnosperms such as Cupressus torulosa D.Don and Cedrus deodara
(D.Don) G Don. The present study also highlights the role of botanic gardens for providing suitable habitats for plants from
varied climatic zones of the country.
Keywords: Temperate Himalayan trees, Interesting plants, Government Botanic Garden.
INTRODUCTION
Botanic gardens which maintain collections of
live plants mainly for study, for scientific research
conservation or education. The cultivation of herbal plants
within small areas for their healing qualities by the monks
of the middle ages appears to have been the beginning of
modern botanical gardens [1]. The increasing rate of the
loss of plant diversity and wild habitats worldwide has
encouraged many botanic gardens to become important
conservation centers. Many new botanic gardens are
being opened or developed to act as centers for plant
conservation, study and education, particularly of plants
native to their own regions [2].
Botanic gardens also provide environmental
awareness among the general public through their
education work [3,4]. They are the centers of expertise for
horticulture and training; knowing how to grow a plant
may be a key to its future survival. They help to conserve
natural vegetation, by maintaining nature reserves and
working with others to study, monitor and conserve plants
and their ecologies in the wild. Globally, botanic gardens
are an essential network of botanical resources for
environmental conservation [4,5]
Study area
Government
(Ooty)
Botanic
Garden,
Udhagamandalam
The
Government
Botanical
Garden,
Udhagamandalam (Ooty) was established in 1847. The
Gardens, divided into several sections, cover an area of
around 22 hectares, and lie on the lower slopes
of Doddabetta peak at 11°24'08.7'' N and 76°44'12.2'' E.
The garden has a terraced layout. It is maintained by the
Tamil Nadu Horticulture Department. It ascends the
slopes of the hill at an elevation of 2250–2500 meter
above Mean Sea Level. The garden enjoys a temperate
climate, with an average rainfall of 140 cm, most of
which is received during South-West monsoon, with
frosty nights from November to February. The maximum
and minimum temperatures are 28 °C and 0 °C
respectively (Fig 1).
METHODOLOGY
The present investigation was undertaken with a
view to list out the arborescent species of Government
Botanical Garden, Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Nilgiri
District, Tamilnadu. An intensive and extensive field trips
were made to cover different seasons. All the important
details including habit, habitat, distribution and their
correct nomenclature were analyzed with the help of
available Floras and literature. Finally these specimens
are poisoned, pressed and mounted on herbarium sheets
for future reference [6-9].
Corresponding Author:-Binu Thomas Email:[email protected]
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Jaya Vijayan. et al. / Journal of Science / Vol 4 / Issue 1 / 2014 / 50-54.
Enumeration
1. Acer caudatum Wall. (Aceraceae) (Pl.-1A)
English Name: Maple
Trees upto 10 m high.Leaves 5-lobed, 10-15 cm
long and broad; lobes 4-6 cm, caudate- acuminate; base
cordate margin coarsely doubly serrate, pale pubescent
beneath especially on veins. Flowers in dense panicles.
Sepals acute, 2-3 mm. Petals as long as sepals. Anthers
scarcely exerted. Mericarps ascending and narrowly
divergent; wing 2-2.5 x 1 cm.
Fl. & Fr.: February - May
Nativity: Himalayas
Notes: An attractive medium sized tree of the deciduous
type, bearing flowers in axillary and terminal corymbs.
Fruits with bright red carpels and winged- seeds, are
clustered in long pendulous heads. A tree of ornamental
value.
2. Acer laevigatum Wall. (Aceraceae)
English Name: Nepal Maple
Tree upto 20 m high. Leaves often serrulate
towards apex, strongly reticulate, green beneath;
petioles1-1.5 cm; flowers in broad panicles 3-7 cm
diameter, pubescent. Sepals 3mm, rounded. Petals pale
greenish yellow, oblong stamens 4mm; anthers crimson.
Mericarps wings, 2.5-3x1cm.
Fl. & Fr.: February - May
Nativity: Southern China
Notes: Maple trees are used widely in landscape works as
well as in the home garden. Maple trees are generally
planted as shade trees, in street plantings or as ornamental
trees and are well known for fantastic autumn color.
3. Acer oblongum Wall. ex DC. (Aceraceae)
English name:Himalyan Maple
Evergreen tree to 25 m high. Leaves oblong, 20
x.5.5 cm, base obtuse, apex acute; petiole to 5 cm.
panicles on leafy axillary; peduncle to 2.5 cm. sepals 4,
linear, subequal. Petals 4, narrow lanceolate, greenish.
Stamens 8, exerted. Ovary pubescent; style 2, free, nearly
to the base. Samara glabrous, wings veined, 2.5 x 1.3 cm,
nutlets convex.
Fl. & Fr.: February - May
Nativity: Hilly regions of Asia at the foot hills of the
Western Himalayas, Nepal, Kashmir in India, Pakistan
and South Western China.
Notes: These trees are widely used for landscape works
as well as in street plantings.
4. Aesculus hippocastanus L. (Hippocastanaceae)
(Pl.-1B)
English Name: Horse chest nut
Tree up to 6-15 m high. Leaves orbicular, 6-8
oblanceolate, leafelets 25-48 x 8-13cm, acuminate, base
cuneate, margins obscurely, often blunty, serrulate and
glabrous. Pedicels 5-7 mm. Calyx tubular, larger, 4. Petals
spathulate, 16-20mm, white, upper 2 tinged yellow or
brownish. Stamens 7, strongly curved, 3.5-4cm. Ovary
linear, puberulous. Fruiting racemes pendulous; capsules
ovoid-ellipsoid.
Fl. & Fr.: February – August
Nativity: Sikkim
Notes: A beautiful flowering tree with a dense round head
of foliage with panicles of showy white flowers. It attracts
the visitors during flowering period.
5.Alnus nepalensis D.Don. (Betulaceae)
English name: Nepalese Alder
Deciduous trees up to 30 m high; branchlets
glabrous, spreading, winter buds stalked. Leaves simple,
alternate, stipulate, 7.5-20 x 5-10.2 cm, elliptic, ovateoblong. Flowers unisexual, green; male flowers in 10-25.5
mm long spikes in terminal drooping panicle, flowers in
clusters of 6-12; bracts 3-flowered. Fruit a strobilate
spike, woody, oblong, bracts persistent, seeds winged.
Nativity: Himalaya and China
Fl. & Fr.: December - January
Notes: A quick growing tree, which can survive under
wet situations. The pendulous catkins of flowers are
attractive.
6.Betula alnoides Buch.- Ham. ex D.Don. (Betulaceae)
English Name: Alder leaf Birch
Trees up to 15m; bark reddish, silvery and
papery, shoots glabrous or tomentose but warty. Leaves
ovate, 6-13 x 3-8 cm, acuminate, rounded at base,
margins unequally serrate, sub-glabrous above, except on
midrib, more pubescent beneath. Male catkins more
tender, ca. 4mm, broad; female catkin 1-4, short raceme,
each 4-7 x 0.6-0.8 cm.
Nativity: Burma, India and Nepal
Fl. & Fr.: March- May
Notes: A fairly big sized tree with elegance and beauty.
The branchlets show a hanging tendency which adds
beauty to the appearance of the tree. In India it is regarded
as an excellent timber for the insides of furniture,
plywood and tool handles.
7.Celtis serotina Planch. (Ulmaceae)
Medium sized trees up to 10 m high. Bark gray, smooth
fissured, conspicuously warty. Branches slender, glabrous
or pubescent. Leaves ovate to oblong-lanceolate, base
rounded. Inflorescences cymes, fascicles; pistillate
solitary, few-flowered clusters. Flowers unisexual,
regular. Fruits fleshy drupes, ovoid or globose.
Nativity: Pennsylvania and Virginia of USA
Fl. & Fr.: June – July
Notes: A good looking medium sized tree with gray bark.
8.Ficus elastica Roxb.ex Hornem. (Moraceae)
English name: Indian rubber plant
Large tree up to30 m high; trunk up to 2 m
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Jaya Vijayan. et al. / Journal of Science / Vol 4 / Issue 1 / 2014 / 50-54.
diameter, develops. Leaves broad, simple, entire, shiny,
elliptic -ovate, 10-35x5-15 cm long, enclosed when buds,
in rosy sheaths.Fruits oblong, greenish-yellow about 1.5
cm.
Fl. & Fr.: Throughout the year
Nativity:East Indies
Notes: Ficus elastica Roxb.ex Hornem is one of the best
known figs and is cultivated throughout the world. It is a
popular ornamental tree grown indoors in cooler climates
and outdoors in warmer tropical climates where it grows
to a spectacular large spreading tree with attractive large
glossy leaves.
9.Magnolia campbellii Hook. f., & Thomson.,
(Magnoliaceae)
English Name: Lily tree
Tree deciduous up to 12-15 m high. Leaves
elliptic to obovate, 25-33 x 10-14 cm, acute, base rounded
or cordate, pubescent, veins 10-15 pairs; petioles 3-4 cm,
stipular scar 5-7 mm. Flowers erect, ca. 15 cm across.
Perianth parts ca 12, outer ones yellowish, inner white,
purple near base. Stamens and carpels purplish. Fruiting
receptacle cylindrical.
Fl. &Fr.: September-November
Nativity: Himalayas
Notes: The Magnolias are highly ornamental. A medium
sized handsome deciduous tree with very attractive big
sized flowers.
10.Prunus laurocerasus L. (Rosaceae)
Trees or shrubs, deciduous, Branchlets spinetipped. Stipules membranous, caducous. Leaves simple,
alternate, leaf blade margin, crenate. Inflorescences
axillary, solitary, 3-flowered in fascicle; bracts small,
caducous. Stamens 20-30, in 2 whorls; filaments unequal.
Carpel 1; ovary superior,1-loculed. Fruit adrupe, glabrous.
Fl. & Fr.: February - August
Nativity:Asia, Europe and North America.
Notes: Good looking Inflorescences of the plant can
attract visitors
11. Schima wallichii (DC.) Korth. (Theaceae)
English Name: Needle wood
Trees up to 30 m high; bark dark gray, deep
vertical fissures. Leaves ovate-elliptic, 9-26 x 4-6 cm.
Flowers fragment, terminal racemes, white, 3.5-5 cm
across. Stamens yellow, numerous; anther yellow, 2
celled. Ovary 5 celled; ovules 2-6 in each cell; Stigmas
radiate. Capsule subglobose 2-2.5 cm diam., woody.
Seeds flat, reniform.
Fl. & Fr.: April - August
Nativity:Nepal to South West China
Notes: A tall quick growing tree with corky bark. Leaves
are big sized, deciduous and pale yellow.
12.Cedrus deodara (D.Don) G.Don (Pinaceae)(Pl.-1C)
English name: Himalayan Cedar
Trees, bark grayish, branches of two kinds: long
terminal shoots, bearing scattered leaves, and short, spurlike shoots with tuft of leaves; winter buds ovoid,
subtended by brown scales. Leaves acicular, 2.5- 4 cm, 3
sided, glacuous, persistent. Male flower in erect catkins,
4-6 x 0.8 -1.2 cm, Female flower in greenish cones to 1.3
x 0.6 cm. Seeds 2 to each scale, 3 – angular, with a broad
membraneous apical wing.
Distribution: W. Himalaya.
Notes:An important timber tree in India. It is widely
grown as an ornamental tree, often planted in parks and
large gardens for its drooping foliage. Young trees have a
broad pyramidal crown that becomes wider with age;
branch tips and leaders droop and have a fine texture.
Fig 1.Satellite Map of Govt. Botanic Garden, Udhagamandalam (Ooty)
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Jaya Vijayan. et al. / Journal of Science / Vol 4 / Issue 1 / 2014 / 50-54.
Plate 1
13.Cupressus torulosa D.Don (Cupressaceae)(Pl.-1D)
English name: Himalayan Cypress
Tree 15 - 35 m tall.Crown large oval to broadly
conical. Bark thick, grey brown or brown, peeling off in
longitudinal strips. Branches slender, drooping, with thin,
whip-like
tips.
Branchlets
cylindrical,
nearly
quadrangular, branching in whorls. Leaves scale-like,
closely appressed, obtuse. Male cone sub globular, 5 6mm long. Female cones globose or elliptic, grouped on
very short stalks, 10 - 20 mm across. Seeds 6 - 8 to each
scale, red-brown.
Distribution: Western Himalaya
Notes: It grows well as a graceful tree and very useful as
an avenue tree with grand scenic effect. Wood is pale
yellow with pale brown heartwood, hard and durable.
DISCUSSION
The present study resulted in the collection of 13
species of temperate Himalayan trees spreading over
11genera and 10families. Among these 13 trees, 2 of them
are gymnosperms such as Cupressus torulosa D.Don. and
Cedrus deodara (D.Don) G.Don. The successful
inhabitants of these species indicates the role of botanic
gardens fo r providing suitable habitats for plants from
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Jaya Vijayan. et al. / Journal of Science / Vol 4 / Issue 1 / 2014 / 50-54.
varied climatic zones of the country.
The species of Acer such as Acer caudatum
Wall, Acer laevigatum Wall and Acer oblongum Wall ex
DC are generally planted as shade trees, in street plantings
and also for landscape works because of its attractive
appearance. The dense round head of foliage and showy
white flowers of Aesculus hippocastanus L., the
pendulous catkins of Alnus nepalensis D.Don and big
sized flowers of Magnolia campbellii Hook. f &
Thomson, attracts the visitors during flowering period.
Ficus elastica Roxb.ex Hornem is one of the best known
member of moraceae and it is grown indoors in cooler
climates and outdoors in warmer tropical climates. The
gymnosperm species such as Cupressus torulosa D.Don is
good looking tree with pale yellow wood and Cedrus
deodara (D.Don). G.Don. is attracted because of its
pyramidal crown and drooping foliage.
CONCLUSION
The temperate ornamental trees possess an
unusually beautiful character due to their attractive
flowers, shape, interesting form and also for their wide
adaptability. They make wonderful focal points in a
landscape and add interest in avenues and gardens. The
present study also reveals the importance of botanical
gardens for ex-situ conservation of our plant diversity.
The occurrence of such plants in the botanical gardens
also provides an opportunity to both students and
researchers to understand more about plants in varied
climatic zones of the country.
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New York, 1986.
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