Morphological differences and habitat relationship of four common herb species of oak and pine forests of Central Himalaya
Abstract
The morphology of forest herbs was examined to determine how variation in growth form could relate to growth and survival in the forest. The four common herb species in both oak and chirpine forests were totally excavated in old growth forest in the Kumaun Himalaya. Both aboveground and belowground parts were measured oven dried and weighed. The different growth forms allow there species flexibility in exploiting the forest environment. The four species were different in rate of extension, growth and rooting depth in both forests. A. vulgaris, G. gossypina, A. concinnum and O. contiguumhave difference in above and below ground growth within the species pairs and these differences in above and belowground growths often greatly effects the plant habitat, tolerances and competitive ability. The difference in growth form among the species help to explain their ability to survive and coexist in the heterogeneous forest floor environment and may be causal in determining distribution patterns.
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