MORPHOLOGY OF FLOWERING

PLANTS IN LADAKH
BIOLOGY ART INTEGRATED PROJECT
CLASS – XI
DONE BY:- MANISHA BALAJI
Contents:-
° Introduction
° Floral diversity of Ladakh
° High altitude vegetation in Ladakh
° Plant survival in high altitude
° Threats to flora
° Types of flowers found
° Acknowledgement
° Bibliography
 Introduction:-
Ladakh, the northern most part of India, a region in Jammu & Kashmir covers more than 92000 Sq. Kms (more
than 70%) geographical area of the state. It is the highest inhabited plateau of the world known for its
inaccessible remoteness and cold climatic conditions with human population approximately 150 000, is one
of the least populated area in the Indian Subcontinent.

Ladakh forms part of the trans-Himalayas, a vast area of high altitude semi-desert and steppe. The
Himalayan Ranges immediately to the north of The Great Himalayan Range are called Trans-Himalayas,
which stretch for a distance of about 1000km in east-west direction. The Zanskar, the Ladakh, the Kailash and
the Karakoram are the main ranges of the trans Himalayan system. Ladakh constitute over 80% of the trans-
Himalayan tract in India. Indian cold deserts comes under the Trans-Himalayan zone and the major parts of
Indian cold desert are confined to Ladakh which covers an area of about 68,321 sq km followed by Lahaul-
Spiti in Himachal Pradesh. Two major mountain chains, the mighty Himalayas and Karakoram, demarcate its
natural borders towards the south and the north respectively, whereas the Zanskar and Ladakh ranges run
through it cut by the flow of river Indus.

India is one of the twelve mega biodiversity rich countries of the world which together supports nearly 60-70%
of the world’s biodiversity. Ten bio-geographic zones represent the biodiversity of India and Ladakh is
considered as one of the zone. The zone has been further sub-divided between the Ladakh mountain (bio-
geographic zone 1A) which includes the high ranges and valleys of Zanskar, Indus, Shyok-Nubra and Lahul
Spiti(60% of the zone)and the Indian portion of the Tibetan Plateau(bio-geographical zone 1B, the remaining
40%) constituted by the Changthang region of eastern Ladakh and a small area of Sikkim north of Kanchen
Jonga.
 Floral diversity of Ladakh:-
Though relatively poor in species compared to areas of similar altitude in the main Himalayas,
Ladakh’s flora has a considerable biological interest, depicting, with its diversity of origin and
endemic species, a high adaptability to extreme climatic conditions and biotic pressure.

Ladakh is rich repository of medicinal and aromatic plants. It is estimated that the Ladakh
region may harbour close to 1,100 species of vascular plants and ferns. As many as 23 species
of flowering plants are endemic to Ladakh. The western and eastern region of Ladakh differs
significantly in terms of floral assemblages.
Ladakh region, comprising two districts namely, Leh and Kargil includes valley, mountains and
glaciers. It is the westernmost extension of the vast Tibetan Plateau, covering an altitude
ranges from 2700 to 7650m and more than 85% of the area of Ladakh part lies above 5000m
above mean sea level. Physiographycally, the entire region may be classified in five major
valleys: Indus, Nubra, Changthang, Suru and Zanskar which lies along the major rivers such as
Indus, Shyok, Nubra, Suru and Zangskar rivers.
 High Altitude Vegetation in Ladakh:-
Ladakh comes under alpine and high alpine zones and is dominated by annual and perennial
herbs, followed by few stunted shrubs and bushes. The vegetative growth starts at beginning of
summer when the melting of snow provides abundant moisture. The flora is in full bloom in the
month of August but starts disappearing by the end of September. The mountain slopes, meadows
and alpine pasturelands give a spectacular display of flowers of cold desert barren mountains.

A) Alpine mesophytes: This zone is also characterized by high humidity and more rainfall. Eg Suru
valley has such characteristic.

B) Oasitic vegetation: This type of vegetation is represented by a variety of exotic as well as

indigenous species, growing near habitation, along water channels, streams, nullahs and in moist
place. Plants of this zone are generally found near habitations like Kargil and Leh and are
cosmopolitan.

C) Desert Vegetation: This zone is characterized by little or no rainfall, low humidity, extreme
fluctuation of diurnal temperature and high velocity winds. Majority of plant species have long roots
and have small leaves.
 Plant survival in high altitude:-
Adaptation to the environment by the potential flora of a region leads to certain changes in underground and aerial parts of plants
for their survival. The vegetation of the cold desert Trans-Himalayas consists of a highly specialized group of plants with metabolic
and reproductive strategies suited for maximizing their activity in harsh climatic conditions. The plant of high altitude cold deserts
exhibits a number of ecological, morphological and physiological adaptations which help them to counteract the impact of hars h
climate prevailing in Ladakh.

The following peculiarities in the plant parts have been observed in Ladakh:

a) Root System: The root system in most of the plant species is very deep and extensive in order to absorb water from depth, as this
zone is known for aridity. Such root system also helps to withstand strong wings, snow blizzards and in escaping damage from subzero
ambient winter temperature.

B) Growth Peculiarities: The vegetation is dominated by the herbs followed by a few stunted and much branched shrubs or bushe s.
The dwarf condition results from suppression of internodes due to slow growth and brief growing period, May-October, which may
be correlated with extreme cold, high solar radiation and retardation of plant sap flow.

C) Physiological Specialization: The major physiological specialization in the high altitude plants is frost resistance. The freezing injury
is mainly caused by the ice crystal formation within the cell. Adaptation is either in the forms of inhibition or reduction in the ice
crystal formation.

D) Reproductive Strategies: The successful survival of a species in a given environment depends upon its effective mode of
reproduction which helps the species for both multiplication and perennation during unfavourable periods. The reproduction and
seed dispersal among the cold desert plants enable them to survive in sparse vegetation. Reproduction is carried out both by sexual
and vegetative methods.
 Threats to flora:-
Nearly one of the recorded flowering plants are used by Amchis for local
medicine. Over100 other species have also come under threat due to
extraction for fuel-wood, habitat degradation and loss.
In order to conserve moisture and reduce transpiration, many Ladakh
flowers have narrow petals that minimize surface area. Hairy leaves
provide insulation and protect flowers from cold temperatures, windy
conditions and intense UV radiations. Flowers in Ladakh develop deep
root systems to access water in the arid and high- altitude environment.
Flowers often exhibit compact growth habits to withstand strong winds
and snowfall in Ladakh.
 Types of flowers found:-
The flora of Ladakh comprises about 880 species. Ladakh is rich repository of medicinal and aromatic plants
and other important plants which are closely associated with daily life of local inhabitants of the region.

Flora in Laadakh
Actonium Violacem
Common name: Aconite, Patees
Local Name: Bona-nagpo
Aconitum violaceum is a perennial herb with a stem of 15-30 cm and leaves 4-8 cm across, palmately cut to
the base into narrow segments. Flowers in dense spike, dark blue, 2-2.5 cm, bracts small, linear. Follicles around
3-5, hairy. The flowering and fruiting of this is frm Mid-June to August. It is found along water streams and moist
places in Nubra, Zanskaar and Suru valleys between 2960-3600 m altitude. The roots are used against cold,
cough, asthma, fever and gastric problems. Air-Dried roots of the plants are reported to contain 1 percent
indaconitine.
Anaphalis Triplinervis

Local Name: Phulumentok or sPra-rgod

Anaphalis triplinervis is a dwarf tufted alpine herb whose stems are leafy and measures around 4-5 cms. It has
many leaves which are narrow lanceolate, white wolly, entire or toothed. Flowering and fruiting is from Mid-July
to August. It is found in alpine rocks and dry places in Leh and Nubra valleys. A very attractive high alpine herb.
The paste of flower heads is used against wounds. The stem, leaves, flowers and fruits are beneficial in chronic
diseases and genital problems
Aquilegia Fragens
Common Name: Columbine
Aquilegia Fragrans is a sweet scented perennial it’s stem measures 40-80 cm, much branched,
covered with glandular hairs. Leaves are compound, leaflets 3-lobed with shallow teeth, more or less
glaucose above. Flowering and fruiting is from July to mid-September. It is found along watter
streams and moist places in Nubra and Suru Valleys between 2950-3205 m altitude. It is iused as an
ornamental plant because of attractive and fragrant flowers in spoke.

Capparis Spinosa
Local name: Kabra
Capparis spinosa is a diffuse and prostrate, perennial shrub or climber with yellow hooked spines.
Leaves are variable, ovate to elliptic with a minute sharp point at the tip. Flowers are large, white to
purple with numerous long stamens, long-stalked, borne on axils of leaves. Flowering & fruiting is from
June to August. It is found in dry rocks and stony slopes along roadside in Leh, Nubra and Suru valleys
between 3,020-3,890 m altitude.
 Acknowledgement:-
I would like to thank my Principal Ms.Deepa Rani and my
teacher Ms.Geetha GV for providing me with such a significant
chance to do a presentation on the informative topic ‘
Morphology of flowers in Ladakh ‘ .Finally I’d like to express my
gratitude to my parents and friends for their excellent
comments and guidance during the completion of this project.

Bibliography:-
◦ www.ladakhdekho.com
◦ www.wikipedia.com
◦ www.researchgate.net