Flora

A Treasure Trove of Nature

Meghalaya is a treasure trove of Nature, with its richly varied and dense endemic, exotic and cultivated flora. Nature, in its generous abundance, had bestowed on Meghalaya a unique array of vegetation, ranging from tropical and sub-tropical to temperate or near temperate. This is due to the diverse topography, varied and abundant rainfall and differential climatic and edaphic conditions of the State, within small regions.. Biotic factors have also played an important role, at places decisive.

Geographical position of Meghalaya has it appears favoured immigration and introduction of different plant species from the neighbouring states of the North Eastern India and also countries like China, Tibet and Burma.

Geological factors, like the connection of Meghalaya with the land masses of Peninsular India, the Pacific Islands, Madagaskar and some other portions of Africa might also have influenced Meghalaya's flora and fauna to some extent.

Depending on the varied scales of rainfall at different parts of the year and at different altitudes and places, both tropical and temperate vegetation occur in Meghalaya. The following four classes of Agro-climatic zones are found:

* The Upper Hill region from 1200 metre to 1500 metre in altitude and above
* The Middle Hill region from 600 metre to 1200 metre high
* The Lower Hill region between 300 metre and 600 metre in altitude
* The Terai or Plain region upto 300 metre from Sea Level

The Plant World

The genetic constitutions of different plants or life forms can be classified as below:

* Parasites and Epiphytes
* Succulent Plants
* Trees and Shrubs known as Phanerophytes
o Tall trees
o Medium trees
o Small trees
o Shrubs
o Undershrubs or Herbs
o Plants with buds deeply buried in the soil
o Annual Herbs
o Water and Marsh plants

In Meghalaya, all the above classes of plant life are found to occur naturally, constituting its rich and varied natural vegetation.
A Botanical Wonder
Pitcher Plant

Meghalaya's endemic Pitcher Plant or Nepenthes khasiana Hk. remains till now an explicable phenomenon to the botanists. It occurs in the Jarain area of the Jaintia Hills and the Baghmara area of the Garo Hills.

The people in the Khasi Hills where the plant grows call it Tiew-Rakot, which means demon-flower or devouring-plant. The Jaintias call it Kset Phare, Kset means net with a lid and Phare means fly. The Garos call the plant Memang-Koksi, which literally means the basket of the devil. The most interesting part of the Pitcher Plant is its leaf. The leaf is modified into different organs, such as the lamina, the tendril, the pitcher and the lid. Over the pitcher, a lid is formed. It is an outgrowth on the face of the leaf near its apex. The lid grows and then become sealed over the mouth of the pitcher. When the plant attains maturity, the lid opens up. The pitcher is designed to catch insects.

The World of Orchids

Meghalaya is a storehouse of richly varied and colorful orchids with as many as 325 species, which grow all over the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills in the meadows, hill-slopes and swamps, even on the wayside. Orchids are found in Meghalaya growing at different heights, mostly on trees, on mossy rocks and also on the ground. Meghalaya is rightly called a Land of Orchids.


Decor Plants

The forests of Meghalaya are treasure house of valuable products such a timber, fuelwood, fodder, resin, tannin, gums, shellac, fibre, latex, essential oils, fats, edible fruits, honey and a large number of medicinal plants. Meghalaya is well known for bay leaves and cinnamon. Morus alba, Quercus semiserrata and a number of other tree species play a vital role in the economy of the State, being the host plants for rearing of silk worms for sericulture.

Meghalayans in general are fond of decorating their courtyards with seasonal flowers and one comes across Dahlia, Canna, Gladiolus, Begonia, Tropaeolum, Aster, Polargonium, Antirrhinum, Crinum, Celosia, Kniphofia, Impatiens, Chrysanthemum, Petunias, Pansy, Calendula, Sweet peas and Salvia. Meany climbers like Bougainvillea, Rosa, Jasminum, etc are quite common. Multiplicity of orchids like Phaius, Dendrobium and Cymbidium spp. are also cultivated.
Money Spinning Plants

The forests of Meghalaya are a rich source of timber. The State as such is surplus in timber production and the bulk of timber for trade originates from private forests. Timber trade forms an integral and vital element in the economy of Meghalaya. Some of the important tree species, which yield valuable timber for trade are Khasi Pine, Sal, Teak, Bamboos.

In Meghalaya forests the rubber-yielding plant of Ficus elastica Roxb. belonging to the family of Moraceae is common.

Lac and Gum are obtained from forests in Meghalaya.

Meghalayan forests offer tremendous scope for sericulture or silk worm rearing industry.

Meghalaya is famous for its honey, derived mostly from forests in beehives. Nowadays, honey is being collected in artificial boxes also, instead of hives on trees.

The major crop plants of Meghalaya are Paddy, Maize, Millets, Pulses, Potato, Jute and Mesta, Ginger, Turmeric, Black Pepper, Sugar Cane, Oil Seeds.

Both arecanut and betelvine are important cash crops of the State. Khasis are used to chew betel nuts and betel leaves since time immemorial.

The State is basically a home of many horticultural plants such as fruit bearing trees, cultivated fruit bearing plants, citrus varieties of fruits.

Vegetables are grown extensively in the central plateau of the Khasi Hills with loamy soil and also in the plains of the Garo Hills.

Recently Tea and Coffee are being grown in lands abandoned after jhuming.
Plants that Cure and Heal

Different parts of many plants growing in Meghalaya have been put to medicinal use.

Among the important and recognised medicinal plants found and cultivated in Meghalaya are Ipecac, Rauvolfia serpentina, Cinchona, Abromine, Chaulmoogra Oil, Croton Oil, Eucalyptus, Castor Oil, Chiretta, Solanum khasianum, Casearia vareca, Zanthoxylum armatum, Hedyotis scandens, Paederia foetida, Salix alba, Anacardium occidentale, Cinnamomum, Taxus baccata.

Fauna

Nature's Wonderland

Meghalaya is a paradise to the botanists for its variedly rich concentration of interesting and valuable flora. It is also no less a happy hunting ground to the zoologists for its interesting, rare and diverse faunal wealth.

Meghalaya is considered by many biologists to have been the gateway through which many species of Indo-Chinese origin, particularly mammals, migrated to Peninsular India.

It is said that about 50% of the total number of mammal genera found in the entire Indian sub-continent can be seen in Meghalaya and its adjoining states in the North-East. Out of the above, nine genera of mammals, such as Tupaia, Rhizomys, Cannomys, Chiropodomys, Micromys etc occur only in Meghalaya and its adjacent areas.

Some of the most interesting animals found in Meghalaya are:

* Hoolock - the only tailless ape in India
* Golden Cat
* Leopard Cat
* Jungle Cat
* Large Indian Civet
* Binturong or Bear Cat
* Himalayan Black Bear
* Barking Deer
* Pangolin

In the forests of Meghalaya, specially in lower altitudes, multifarious species of birds can be seen in abundance. Some of the common birds are:

* Hoopoe
* Long tailed Broadbill
* Scarlet Minivet
* Burmese Roller
* Blue-throated Barbet
* Red-vented Bulbul
* Himalayan Black Bulbul
* Himalayan Whistling Thrush
* Spotted Forktail
* Black-breasted Kalij Pheasant
* Red Jungle Fowl
* Mynas like Jungle Mynas, Hill Mynas etc.
* Turtle-dove

Besides, hornbills including the Great Indian hornbill, florican, owl, black drongo and many other birds are also found.

Reptile population in Meghalaya includes lizards and snakes, poisonous and non-poisonous. Important ones are:

* Indian Cobra
* King cobra
* Coral Snake
* Vipers
* Python
* Blind Snake
* Copperhead
* Red-necked Kulback
* Green Tree Racer

Besides mammals, birds and reptiles, Meghalaya has a number of amphibians and fishes and insects. Amphibians like frogs, toads etc. and fishes like rohu, mrigal, kalibaus, puti and many more of hill stream adaptation are found abundantly in Meghalaya. Among the insect population, ants, flies, bees, beetles are common.

Meghalaya's butterflies are world famous, among which are Blue Peacock, the Karserhed, the Orange Oak Leaf, the Dipper, the Bhutan Glory. It is for this exquisitely diverse, rare and wonderful animal life that Meghalaya is called a veritable Nature's Wonderland

Mammals

Some species of different families of mammals namely Primates, the Cats, Civets, Mongooses, Dogs, Bear, Weasels, Bats, Rodents, Elephants, Gaur, Wild Buffalo, Serow, Deer, Pigs and Pangolins are seen roaming in the forests of Meghalaya. In Meghalaya we come across apes as well as monkeys and lemurs. The only type of apes found in Meghalaya as also in India is Hoolock Gibbon. In Meghalaya, we have both macaques and langurs. Of the macaques, Rhesus Macaque and Assamese Macaque are found. The Golden Langur is a very rare species of Meghalaya and is on the verge of extinction. They inhabit the evergreen forests of Meghalaya. Among lemurs, the Slow Loris is found in Meghalaya.

In Meghalaya, among the Cat Family the following are found: Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Golden Cat, Leopard Cat and Jungle Cat.

In Meghalaya forests, the following are the most important Civets:

* The Large Indian Civets
* The Small Indian Civets
* The Common Palm Civet or Toddy Cat
* The Binturong or Bear Cat

In Meghalaya, the usual types of Mongooses found are:

* The Common Mongoose
* The small Indian Mongoose

The Scavenger Mammals
The Dog Family comprises Wolves, Jackals, Foxes and Dogs, all of which are found in Meghalaya. In Meghalaya, the Indian foxes commonly found. It lives in open country and seldom enters forest.

The Hefty Climbers
In Meghalaya, usually two species of bears are found-Sloth Bear and The Himalayan Black Bear.

The Weasel Family
The Weasel Family in Meghalaya comprises Weasels, Otters, Martens and Badgers. The Common Otter, Yellow Throated Marten and the Hog-Badger are commonly found.

The Supersonic Parachuted Animals
In Meghalaya, both vegetarian and carnivorous bats are found. Some bats dwell on trees, but their most usual shelter is the cave. Meghalaya's famous Siju Cave is very much infested with bats.

The Gnawing Animals
In Meghalaya, the most interesting rodents are:

* Flying Squirrel
* Malayan Giant Squirrel
* Himalayan Squirrel
* Indian Porcupine

In Meghalaya, there are about 2,000 elephants in the Garo Hills and 500 in the jungles of the Jaintia Hills. The average height of an adult Meghalayan mail elephant is about 270 cm. The Wild Buffalo is also found in Meghalaya.

Goat-Antelopes
The Serow is common in Meghalaya. In Meghalaya, usually two varieties of deer are found - Sambar and Barking Deer. Wild Boars and the Pangolins or scaly ant-eaters are also common here.

The Winged Bipeds
Magpie-Robin is a favourite bird to be seen in Meghalaya. The joyful notes and vivacity of the Red-vented Bulbul make it very popular in Meghalaya. The Hill Myna is usually found in pairs or in flocks in the hill forests of Meghalaya. In Meghalaya Sal forests, the Red Jungle Fowl are a common sight but their population is dwindling fast. The Large Pied Hornbill and the Great Indian Hornbill are found in Meghalaya. The Great Indian Hornbill is in fact the largest bird in Meghalaya. The Peacock Pheasant can be seen in the forests of Garo and Jaintia hills. In cultivation fields and wooded country in Meghalaya, the Large Indian Parakeet is common. The Common Green Pigeon is found in flocks in wooded country in Meghalaya. The Black-necked Stork is a common bird on marshland, beels, lakes and rivers in Meghalaya - usually found solitary, wading in shallow water. Blue Jay is a common bird in Meghalaya, usually found about cultivation fields near human habitations. The Kalij Pheasant is very fond of thick undergrowth in jungle ravines, frequents cultivation around hill villages in Garo hills, Jaintia hills and Khasi hills. Among the Indian Great Horned Owl, the race found in Meghalaya is bengalensis.

Amphibians, Reptiles & Fishes
In Meghalaya, amphibians are represented by frogs and toads. In Meghalaya four types of reptiles are found - Lizards, Crocodiles, Tortoises and Snakes. Among the non-poisonous snakes found in Meghalaya, the following may be mentioned: Python, Blind snakes, Copper head, Green tree racer, Red necked Kulback. The poisonous snakes in Meghalaya include: Indian cobra, King cobra, Coral snake and Vipers. In Meghalaya's rivers and beels, are found many species of fishes. Major carps like Lobeo rohita, L. kalbasa, L. gonius, Katla-katla, Cirrhinus mrigala are the prized and most coveted fish species. Amongst the minor carps, Barbus, Stigma, B. sarana, B. ticto, B. conchonius, B. phutuna are also found. The jheels usually contained Joelfishes like Channa striatus, C. punctatus, C. marutius, Anabas spp., Clarias Sp. Some of the species of fishes in Meghalaya show cold hill stream adaptation.

The Winged Delights

Meghalaya is a happy abode of splendid varieties of butterflies, which are simply exquisite. Varied climate and multiple plant life of near temperate to sub-tropical ones as also a richly diverse topography make Meghalaya a natural storehouse of beautiful butterflies. About 250 species of butterflies are found in Meghalaya, out of about 1,000 species seen in India. Some of the exquisite varieties of butterflies of Meghalaya which are admired all over the world are: Blue Peacock, the Kaiser-E-Hind, Leafs-Butterfly, the Dipper, the Bhutan Glory. The Yellow Orange Tip has been recorded from Barapani during June. The Vagrant has been recorded from Nongpoh during February. The Common Blue Bottle has been recorded from Cherrapunjee, Mawphlang, Laitkor and Shillong during July to November. The Red-Breast Jazebel has been recorded from Nongpoh and Shillong during October.