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Q23 (IAS/2014) Geography › Indian Physical Geography › Natural vegetation zones Official Key

If you travel through the Himalayas, you are likely to see which of the following plants naturally growing there? 1. Oak 2. Rhododendron 3. Sandalwood Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is option A (1 and 2 only).

Oak trees are predominant in the higher hill ranges of northeastern India, hilly areas of West Bengal and Uttaranchal, found as evergreen broad leaf trees between 1,000-2,000 m altitude[1]. The eastern Himalayas have greater variety of oaks and rhododendron because of higher rainfall and relatively warmer conditions than the Western Himalayas[3]. In the Western Himalayas, rhododendron is found as part of sub-alpine vegetation, and rhododendron of many species covers the hills in the eastern parts[4].

However, Sandalwood (Santalum album) is found in tropical moist deciduous forests[5], not in the Himalayan region. Sandalwood is typically associated with peninsular India and the monsoon forest belt. Therefore, while oak and rhododendron are naturally growing plants of the Himalayas, sandalwood is not found there.

Sources
  1. [1] INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation > Montane Forests > p. 45
  2. [2] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Himalayas and east and south east Asia > p. 8
  3. [3] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Himalayas and east and south east Asia > p. 8
  4. [4] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 10: Indian Forest > r0.r.14. Sub alpine forest > p. 163
  5. [5] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > Table 5.5 > p. 15
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Q. If you travel through the Himalayas, you are likely to see which of the following plants naturally growing there? 1. Oak 2. Rhododendron …
At a glance
Origin: From standard books Fairness: High fairness Books / CA: 10/10 · 0/10

This is a classic 'Biogeographic Mismatch' question. UPSC tests if you can distinguish between 'Forest Type' (e.g., Deciduous) and 'Regional Species' (e.g., Sal vs. Sandalwood). While both are deciduous, Sandalwood is iconic to the Peninsula, while Oak/Rhododendron are iconic to the Montane ecosystem. The trap lies in assuming all deciduous trees grow in all deciduous zones.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Are oak trees (genus Quercus) native to the Himalayan region?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation > Montane Forests > p. 45
Presence: 5/5
“The Himalayan ranges show a succession of vegetation from the tropical to the tundra, which change in with the altitude. Deciduous forests are found in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is succeeded by the wet temperate type of forests between an altitude of 1,000-2,000 m. In the higher hill ranges of northeastern India, hilly areas of West Bengal and Uttaranchal, evergreen broad leaf trees such as oak and chestnut are predominant. Between 1,500-1,750 m, pine forests are also well-developed in this zone, with Chir Pine as a very useful commercial tree. Deodar, a highly valued endemic species grows mainly in the western part of the Himalayan range.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states oak as a predominant evergreen broad-leaved tree in higher hill ranges of the Himalayas.
  • Places oak within the wet temperate altitudinal zone of the Himalayas, indicating native occurrence by altitude.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Himalayas and east and south east Asia > p. 8
Presence: 5/5
“Te eastern Himalayas have greater variety of oaks, rhododendron because of higher rainfall and relatively warmer conditions than that of the Western Himalayas. Surrounding more than two million square km of tropical Asia, the Eastern Himalayan Hotspot is still revealing biological treasures. A wide diversity of ecosystems is found in this hotspot including mixed wet evergreen, dry-evergreen, deciduous and montane forests. Tere are also tracts of shrub-lands and woodlands on limestone outcrops and in some coastal areas, scattered heath forests. It is also characterised by swamps, mangroves and seasonally inundated”
Why this source?
  • Describes the eastern Himalayas as having a greater variety of oaks due to higher rainfall and warmer conditions.
  • Frames oaks as a notable component of eastern Himalayan flora, implying native diversity and abundance.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > 2. The North-Western Himalayan Region > p. 3
Presence: 5/5
“The Western Himalayan Floristic region stretches over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. This region records relatively less rainfall and temperatures. The effect of altitude is quite visible on the vegetation of Western Himalayas. Here again, one finds the sub-tropical (upto 1525 m), temperate (1525 m to 3650 m) and Alpine vegetation from 3650 m to 4575 m. In the sub-montane region the main vegetation is sal, semul, and savanna type. Among the temperate vegetation are chir (pine), oak, deodar, alder, birch, and conifers. At higher altitudes, trees are replaced by alpine pastures and trees like juniper, silver fir, birch, and larch are seen.”
Why this source?
  • Lists oak among the temperate vegetation of the Western Himalayan floristic region.
  • Shows oak occurring alongside other native temperate trees (deodar, alder, birch), supporting nativity in the Himalayas.
Statement 2
Are rhododendron species native to the Himalayan region?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 10: Indian Forest > r0.r.14. Sub alpine forest > p. 163
Presence: 5/5
“Sub alpine forests extend from Kashmir to Arunachal Fraciesh hetween 2000 to 3500 metres. In the Western Himalayas, the vegetation consists mainly of juniper, rhododendron, willow, and black currant. In the eastern parts, red fir, black juniper, birch, and larch are the common trees. Due to heavy rainfail and high humidity the timberline in this part is higher than that in the West. Rhododendron of many species covers the hills in these parts.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states sub-alpine forests (Kashmir to Arunachal) include rhododendron.
  • Says 'Rhododendron of many species covers the hills' — direct evidence of native presence.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Himalayas and east and south east Asia > p. 8
Presence: 5/5
“Te eastern Himalayas have greater variety of oaks, rhododendron because of higher rainfall and relatively warmer conditions than that of the Western Himalayas. Surrounding more than two million square km of tropical Asia, the Eastern Himalayan Hotspot is still revealing biological treasures. A wide diversity of ecosystems is found in this hotspot including mixed wet evergreen, dry-evergreen, deciduous and montane forests. Tere are also tracts of shrub-lands and woodlands on limestone outcrops and in some coastal areas, scattered heath forests. It is also characterised by swamps, mangroves and seasonally inundated”
Why this source?
  • Notes the eastern Himalayas have a greater variety of rhododendron due to higher rainfall and warmer conditions.
  • Identifies rhododendron as a characteristic taxon of the eastern Himalayan floristic region.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Biogeographic zones of India > p. 25
Presence: 5/5
“• 5. Te Himalayan Floristic Region: Te Himalayas have been divided into two foristic divisions, i.e. Te Western Himalayas and the Eastern Himalayas. Te Western Himalaya sprawls over the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Tis region is characterised with altitudinal zonation of natural vegetation. Te main vegetation types of this region include Sal, teak, rhododendron, Laburnum, orchids, bamboo, champa, Semul, pines, deodar, oak, alder, chest-nut, birch, larch, spruce, fr, silver fr and juniper. At higher altitudes, are the alpine pastures known as Margs in the state of Jammu & Kashmir.• 6. Trans-Himalayas Floristic Region: Te Trans-Himalayas Floristic Region sprawls over the leeward-side of the Greater Himalayas in the Ladakh Division of Jammu & Kashmir.”
Why this source?
  • Lists rhododendron among the main vegetation types of the Himalayan Floristic Region.
  • Includes rhododendron in the vegetation inventory for the Western Himalayas, confirming broad Himalayan occurrence.
Statement 3
Is sandalwood (Santalum album) naturally found in the Himalayan region?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > Table 5.5 > p. 15
Presence: 5/5
“The tropical moist deciduous forests are found in Sahyadris, the north-eastern parts of the peninsula and along the foothills of the Himalayas (Fig. 5.3). These forests on the whole have gregarious species. The typical landscape consists of tall teak trees with sal, bamboos, and shrubs growing fairly close together to form thickets. Both teak and sal are economically important and so are the Sandalwood (Santalum album), Shisham (Dalbergia”
Why this source?
  • Snippet explicitly names Sandalwood (Santalum album) among economically important species.
  • The same snippet states tropical moist deciduous forests occur along the foothills of the Himalayas, linking sandalwood to Himalayan foothills habitat.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > 2. Woods of the Monsoon Forests > p. 22
Presence: 3/5
“The main trees of the monsoon forests are as under: • (i) Sal (Shorea Robusta): It occurs in the sub-Himalayan region from Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) to Darrang (Assam), Meghalaya and the northern parts of Tamil Nadu. Its wood is very heavy, hard and durable. It is much in demand for piles, doors, beams, planking and railway sleepers. Sal forests occupy 11.6 lakh hectares, accounting for about 16% of the total forest area of the country.• (ii) Teak (Tectona Grandis): Teak is the most popular tree of the monsoon climate found mainly in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, the foothills of Himalayas, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, the western and eastern Ghats, and Banswara (Rajasthan).”
Why this source?
  • Describes monsoon/deciduous forest trees (e.g., teak) occurring in the foothills of the Himalayas.
  • Provides habitat context showing that species typical of tropical/monsoon forests are present in Himalayan foothills, supporting [1].
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 9: Indian Biodiversity Diverse Landscape > r) Himalayan foothills > p. 158
Presence: 2/5
“(r) Himalayan foothills Flora: Natural monsoon evergreen and semievergreen forests; dominant species are sal, silk-cotton trees, giant bamboos; tall grassy meadow with savannahs in tarai.”
Why this source?
  • Defines Himalayan foothills vegetation as monsoon evergreen/semi-evergreen with dominant tree species, confirming the foothills as a distinct low-altitude vegetation zone.
  • Supports the ecological plausibility that tropical species (like sandalwood) occur in the Himalayan foothills.
Pattern takeaway: UPSC frequently sets traps using 'Broad Classification vs. Specific Endemicity'. A forest type (Deciduous) exists in both Himalayas and South India, but the specific species (Sandalwood) is endemic to only one. Always map iconic economic timber to its specific state/geography.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Directly solvable from NCERT Class XI (India Physical Environment), Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Altitudinal Zonation of Vegetation. You must visualize the mountain slope: Foothills (Sal) → 1000m-2000m (Oak/Chestnut) → 1500m-3000m (Pine/Deodar) → 3000m+ (Rhododendron/Juniper/Birch).
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Dominant Tree' for each zone: 1. Tropical Wet Evergreen: Ebony, Mahogany, Rosewood (Western Ghats/NE). 2. Himalayan Foothills (Deciduous): Sal, Semul, Bamboo. 3. Temperate Himalaya: Oak, Deodar, Chir Pine, Blue Pine. 4. Alpine: Silver Fir, Juniper, Birch, Rhododendron.
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not just memorize 'Moist Deciduous Forest'. You must split it into 'North Indian Moist Deciduous' (Sal dominated) and 'South Indian Moist Deciduous' (Teak/Sandalwood dominated). The species composition changes with latitude even if the broad forest type remains the same.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Altitudinal zonation of Himalayan vegetation
💡 The insight

References describe vegetation changing with altitude and place oak in specific altitudinal zones (wet temperate/higher hills).

Frequently tested in geography/ecology questions on Himalayan vegetation patterns; links to climate, rainfall, and species distribution. Master by mapping vegetation types to altitude belts and practicing case examples from western and eastern Himalayas.

📚 Reading List :
  • INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation > Montane Forests > p. 45
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > 2. The North-Western Himalayan Region > p. 3
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Biogeographic zones of India > p. 25
🔗 Anchor: "Are oak trees (genus Quercus) native to the Himalayan region?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 East–West Himalayan floristic differences
💡 The insight

Evidence contrasts eastern Himalayas (higher oak diversity due to more rainfall) with western regions, highlighting regional variation in oak occurrence.

Useful for questions on biogeographic hotspots, biodiversity gradients and conservation priorities; helps answer comparative questions on species richness and climatic influence. Study by comparing rainfall, temperature and species lists across the two divisions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 10: Indian Forest > 1. 2. Himalayan Moist Temperate Forest > p. 163
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Himalayas and east and south east Asia > p. 8
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Biogeographic zones of India > p. 25
🔗 Anchor: "Are oak trees (genus Quercus) native to the Himalayan region?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Ecological role of oaks in mountain slope stability
💡 The insight

One reference highlights oak's role in holding mountain soil and reducing erosion in the Himalayas.

High-yield for environment/disaster management topics (forest role in erosion control, landslides). Connects forestry, land-use policy and disaster mitigation questions. Prepare by linking species ecology to ecosystem services and case studies (e.g., Uttarakhand floods).

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 17: Contemporary Issues > Fig. 17.10(a) Bhagirathi, Mandakni, Alaknanda Basins, the worst affected Region of 'Himalayan Tsunami' 16 June, 2013 > p. 34
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 10: Indian Forest > 1. 2. Himalayan Moist Temperate Forest > p. 163
🔗 Anchor: "Are oak trees (genus Quercus) native to the Himalayan region?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Altitudinal zonation of Himalayan vegetation
💡 The insight

References describe sub-tropical, temperate and alpine bands in the Himalayas where different species (including rhododendron) occur by altitude.

High-yield for UPSC geography/ecology: questions often ask vegetation types by altitude, species distribution, and associated climatic controls. Mastering this helps answer questions on biodiversity patterns, forest types, and biogeography. Prepare by mapping vegetation belts to altitude ranges and associated species lists from standard texts.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > 2. The North-Western Himalayan Region > p. 3
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Biogeographic zones of India > p. 25
🔗 Anchor: "Are rhododendron species native to the Himalayan region?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Eastern vs Western Himalayan floristic differences
💡 The insight

Evidence contrasts the eastern Himalayas (higher rainfall, warmer) having greater rhododendron diversity versus the western Himalayas.

Important for questions on regional biodiversity hotspots and climatic influence on species distribution. Helps in answering comparative questions on flora/fauna across Himalayan sectors and conservation priorities. Study by comparing climatic gradients, key species, and hotspot concepts.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Himalayas and east and south east Asia > p. 8
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 10: Indian Forest > r0.r.14. Sub alpine forest > p. 163
🔗 Anchor: "Are rhododendron species native to the Himalayan region?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Sub-alpine forest composition (rhododendron focus)
💡 The insight

Several references explicitly list rhododendron as a dominant component of sub-alpine and moist temperate forests in the Himalayas.

Useful for direct MCQs and map-based questions about forest types and species assemblages in Himalayan zones. Knowing characteristic taxa for sub-alpine forests (e.g., rhododendron, birch, juniper) aids elimination in objective tests and substantiated answers in mains. Revise by linking forest types to representative genera and elevation bands.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 10: Indian Forest > r0.r.14. Sub alpine forest > p. 163
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > social relevance of forests > p. 22
🔗 Anchor: "Are rhododendron species native to the Himalayan region?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Tropical moist deciduous forests distribution
💡 The insight

Sandalwood is named within the list of species of tropical moist deciduous forests, which the references place along the Himalayan foothills.

High-yield for UPSC geography/ecology: helps answer questions about forest types, species distribution and economic trees. Links to topics on forest classification, regional distribution, and resource use. Prepare by memorising major forest types, their characteristic species and regional locations (e.g., foothills, peninsular zones).

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > Table 5.5 > p. 15
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > 2. Woods of the Monsoon Forests > p. 22
🔗 Anchor: "Is sandalwood (Santalum album) naturally found in the Himalayan region?"
🌑 The Hidden Trap

Since they asked about Rhododendron (Sub-alpine), the next logical sibling is 'Bhojpatra' (Himalayan Birch/Betula utilis), which forms the timberline (the limit of tree growth) along with Juniper. Also, look out for 'Red Sanders' (Pterocarpus santalinus), which is endemic ONLY to the Seshachalam Hills (Eastern Ghats), unlike the broader range of Sandalwood.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Apply the 'Brand Association' heuristic. When you hear 'Sandalwood', you think of 'Mysore Sandal Soap' or 'Veerappan' (Karnataka/Tamil Nadu forests). It is a tropical species sensitive to frost. The Himalayas have freezing winters. Tropical species cannot survive frost. Therefore, Sandalwood (3) is impossible. Eliminate options B, C, and D.

🔗 Mains Connection

Link Sandalwood to General Science (Biology): Sandalwood (Santalum album) is a 'Hemiparasite'. It requires the roots of other trees (host plants) to survive in its early stages. This biological constraint makes it difficult to grow naturally in the rugged, shifting slopes of the Himalayas compared to the stable plateau soils.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2012 · Q73 Relevance score: 0.30

When you travel in Himalayas, you will see the following: 1. Deep gorges 2. U-turn river courses 3. Parallel mountain ranges 4. Steep gradients causing land-sliding Which of the above can be said to be the evidences for Himalayas being young fold mountains?

NDA-I · 2018 · Q60 Relevance score: -2.43

Which one of the following Himalayan vegetation species is found between the altitudes of 1800 to 2600 metres ?

NDA-I · 2011 · Q59 Relevance score: -2.93

Consider the following statements : 1. The Himalayan vegetation varies according to both altitude and climatic conditions. 2. There are mainly two types of tropical forests that are found in the Himalayas—the tropical rainforests and the tropical deciduous forests Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

IAS · 2021 · Q30 Relevance score: -4.66

In the nature, which of the following is/are most likely to be found surviving on a surface without soil? 1. Fern 2. Lichen 3. Moss 4. Mushroom Select the correct answer using the code given below.