PLANT FORMS AND SEASONALITY OF LEAVES IN HERB LAYERS OF SITES WITH VARYING LEVELS OF DEFORESTATION

Abstract

The present study highlights the changes in species composition, life form, growth form and leaf phenology of herb layers in response to change in extent, of tree cover, and associated variations in edaphic conditions between 1600- 2000 m elevation in Central Himalaya. The flora was phanerophytic in forested site, therophytic in partly deforested site and hemigeophytic in the deforested site. Forbs were the dominant growth forms of the forested site, while in partly deforested and deforested sites grasses and sedges in combination with short forbs and tall forbs respectively predominated. The observations on leaf phenology indicated that of the total 44 herb species 68% initiated growth during the rainy season and the rest during the summer season. The periods of photosynthetic activity were longer for summer-initiated species than for the rainy season initialed species.