Dry Tropical Forests of India
These forests develop in areas of less rainfall and more dry seasons. The temperature is high, but moisture availability is low — hence vegetation adapts accordingly.
Dry Tropical Forests are further classified into three types:
1. Tropical Dry Evergreen Forests
An unusual case: evergreen trees in a relatively dry climate — a rare forest type in India.
🌦️ Climatic Conditions
- Rainfall: ~100 cm, mostly due to Northeast Monsoon (Oct–Dec)
- Temperature: Around 28 °C
- Humidity: ~75%
🌳 Characteristics
- Short-statured trees (up to 12 m) — yet forming a dense canopy
- No prominent grasses or bamboo
- Evergreen appearance — but in a dry zone
- Major Trees: Jamun, Tamarind, Neem
- Highly exploited: Most of the land now cleared for agriculture or casuarina plantations
📍 Distribution
- Coastal Tamil Nadu — unique as it receives rain from both SW & NE monsoons
2. Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests
The most widespread dry forest in India — transitional between moist deciduous and thorny scrub.
🌦️ Climatic Conditions
- Rainfall: 100–150 cm
- Dry seasons longer than in moist deciduous regions.
🌳 Characteristics
- Trees shed all leaves in dry season to conserve water
- Canopy is present but uneven
- Trees: ~20 m tall; more open spacing
- Understory vegetation (grasses, climbers) is prominent
- Prone to degradation due to agriculture, overgrazing, fires
📍 Distribution
- Wide strip from Himalayan foothills to southern tip
- Excludes: Rajasthan, Western Ghats, West Bengal
🪵 Important Species
- Teak, Axlewood, Rosewood, Bamboo, Red Sanders
3. Tropical Thorn Forests
The driest forest type — nature’s xerox of desert survival strategies.
🌦️ Climatic Conditions
- Rainfall: < 75 cm
- Humidity: < 50%
- Temperature: 25–30 °C
🌳 Characteristics
- Sparse vegetation — low, scattered trees and shrubs
- Dominated by thorns, spines, waxy leaves
- Acacias, Euphorbias, Indian Wild Date, Cacti thrive
- Grasses grow only briefly during rainy season
Key Adaptation: Plants store water, reduce leaf area, and defend themselves with thorns — classic xerophytes.
📍 Distribution
- Rajasthan, SW Punjab, Western Haryana, Kutch (Saurashtra)
- Leeward Western Ghats: Parts of Maharashtra (Vidarbha), Telangana, Karnataka, TN
🪵 Important Species
- Neem, Babul, Cactus, Prosopis
✅ Summary Table: Dry Tropical Forests
| Forest Type | Rainfall (cm) | Tree Height | Vegetation Density | Key Trees | Key Area |
| Dry Evergreen | ~100 | Short (≤12m) | Dense Canopy | Jamun, Tamarind, Neem | Coastal Tamil Nadu |
| Dry Deciduous | 100–150 | Medium (≤20m) | Moderate | Teak, Rosewood, Red Sanders | Across Indian Plains |
| Thorn Forest | <75 | Low | Sparse | Acacia, Euphorbia, Cacti | Rajasthan, Kutch, Deccan |
