PHYSICAL FEATURES AND NATURAL RESOURCES

FORESTS

General distribution.

PHYSICALLY, THE FORESTS OP KOLHAPUR are a southward extension of the forest types of Poona and Satara districts. The wooded areas are confined to the western half of the tract. The western rim and its descending slopes claim a stunted type of evergreen vegetation. On the eastern fringes the over-wood consists of deciduous species with a ground-flora of evergreen species. The dry eastern plan claim scanty patches of wood-growth in land pockets. Three main forests types can be distinctly located, viz., (1) the sub-tropical evergreen, (2) the moist deciduous and the semi-evergreen, and (3) the dry deciduous forests.

Sub-Tropical Evergreen.

These occupy the high rainfall regions in the extreme west of the dstrict. No particular plant species can be marked as principal in the composition. Jambhul, hirda, anjani, surangi, panjambhul get mixed up in the top canopy with pnansi, etc., mostly coming in as sub-dominants. The lower storey and ground flora mostly consist of karvi, bracken fern and others. This composition is mainly confind to elevations round about 2,200' above the mean sea level.

Semi evergreen and moist deciduous.

Barring the prominent existence of the deciduous species in the typical deciduous deciduous formation, the composition of the two is made of jambhul, amba, nana, sissum, asana, kumbhi, bhava, panjambhul, kinjal, ain, kinai, umbar, biba, cnanste and others. In forests of this type in Ajra mahal, the famous scented wood species, chandan (sandalwood) occurs profusely. Bamboos are sparse.

Dry-deciduous type.

The dry deciduous forests are strewn far and wide in small patches. The usual species of the drier zones occur here. The prominent feature in these forests is the total absence of dhavda and a greater incidence of sissum.

Area statement of forest.

The area statement of the forests in various Ranges of Kolhapur District is given below: -

Name of the Range.

Area o Reserved Forest..

Area o Protected Forest t

Area o Unrelassed Forest.

Total

 

A.

g.

A.

g.

A.

g.

A.

g.

1. Karvir

10,437

25

12,476

38

824

15

23,738

38

2. Panhala

47,783

12

21,343

13

--

--

69,126

25

3. Bhudargad

48,886

15

20,487

11

--

--

69,373

26

4. Ajra

15,036

33

18,323

03

243

15

33,603

11

5. Vishalgad

44,480

26

4,427

34

--

--

48,908

20

6. Bavada

18,318

10

--

--

--

--

18,318

10

7. Radhanagari

45,760

39

37,928

31

--

--

83,689

30

Total

2,30,704

00

1,14,987

10

1,067

30

3,46,759

00

These forests have been classified as reserved, protected etc. by the former Kolhapur State. However, a regular forest settlement and demarcation as per the procedure laid down in the Indian Forest Act will have to be done. Besides, there are extensive areas known as sheri lands claimed by H. H. the Chhatrapati Maharaja of Kolhapur as his private property, which are well stocked with forests. The legal position of these sheri lands have not been finally decided.

General condition of the forests.

The past history of the forests is a story of working that utterly lacked forest sense. The unrestricted practice of shifting cultivation known as kumri has caused considerable devastation of the forests and the woods in most places are stunted regrown. Very little, if at all, has remained on the original state of growth over the entire tract. The only forest conservation attempts were the strict reservations of certain species like teak, chandan, hirda, and sissum, which were also the royal trees in malki lands. Attempts of artificial regeneration of valuable species were never organized on an extensive scale. As a result of all these factors, the forests of Kolhapur district do not present a very healthy picture. Strict conservancy and extensive artificial regeneration will form the main works in future to improve the forests.

Marketable Forest produce.

Firewood and grass are the main marketable products from these forests. Timber is of a very poor quality and meagre. Hirda fruit is produced in large quantities and most of it is consumed in the factory of the Amba Tannin and Pharmaceutical Limited for the extraction of tannin. This tannin extraction factory is the only one of its type in the State. The other minor forest products are enumerated below: -

(1) Kaju fruits.

(2) Watsol.

(3) Cocumbs.

(4) Mango fruit.

(5) Bibi fruits.

(6) Shikekai.

(7) Palas leaves.

(8) Kuchala seeds.

(9) Kumkum fal.

(10) Silver cotton.

(11) Honey and Wax.

(12) Karanj seeds.

(13) Rameta bark.

(14) Reeds.

(15) Wavding.

(16) Tembhurni leaves.

(17) Pisa fruits.

The following is a list of the chief trees, shrubs, climbers, bamboos and grass to be found in the Kolhapur district: -

Local Vernacular Name.

Scientific Name.

TREES.

Ain

Terminalia tomentosa.

Ain

Terminalia crenulata.

Akas-Nimb

Millingtonia hortensis.

Al or Bartondi

Morinda tinctoria.

Alu

Vengueria spinosa.

Amba

Mangifera indica.

Amberi

Nothopegia colebrookiana.

Ambgool, Narali

Elceagnus latijolia.

Anjani

Memecylon edule.

Apta

Bauhinia recemosa.

Arjun-Sadada ' Dhavada'.

Terminalia arjuna.

Asana, Katak

Bridelia retusa.

Avala

Phyllanthus embilica.

Babul

Acacia arabica.

Bahawa

Cassia fistula.

Behada, Vehola, Hela

Terminalia belerica.

Bel

Aegle marmelos.

Bhamini

Colebrookia oppositifolia.

Bhendi

Thespesia polulnea.

Bhokar

Cordia myxa.

Bhoma

Glochvdion lanceolarium.

Bhutkes

Mussaenda frondosa.

Bhutya

Elaeodendron glaucum.

Biba

Semecarpus anacardium.

Bibi

Holigarna arnottiana.

Bibla, Asan

Pterocarpus marsupium.

Bocha

Salix ichnostachya.

Bondara, Lendi

Lagerstroemia parviflora.

Bor

Zizyphus jujuba.

Chandan

Santalum album.

Chandida

Macaranga roxburghii.

Chapha

Michelia champaca.

Char, Charoli

Buchanania latifolia.

Chera

Erincarpus nimmoanus.

Chinch

Tamarindus indica.

Dahiwan

Cordia macleodii.

Local Vernacular Name.

Scientific Name.

Delchini

Cinnamomum zeylanicum.

Dandoshi

Dalbergia lanceolaria.

Datrang

Ehretia canaransis.

Dhhaman

Grewia tilicefolia.

Dhavada, Dindal

Anogeissus latifolia.

Dikamali

Gardenia lucida.

Gela

Randia dumetorum.

Goinda, Kala

Diospyros montana.

Gulum, Gelam

Machilus macrantha.

Hadkya

 

Halda, Hashwal

Gholoroxylon swietenia.

Hed

Adina cordifolia.

Hingan

Balanites roxourghii.

Hirda

Terminalia chebula.

Humb

Saccopetalum tomentosum.

Hure

Sapium insigne.

Jam, Peru

Psidium guayava.

Jambhul

Eugenia jambolana.

Kajr, Kuchla

Strychnos nuxvomica.

Kaju

Anacardium occidentale.

Kalamb

Mitragyna parvifolia.

Kanchan

Bauhinia variegata.

Kapsin, Siddum

Tetrameles nudiflora.

Kapshi

Ligustrum neilgherrense.

Karanj

Pongamia glabra.

Karmal, Karambel

Dillenia iniica.

Kavath

Feronia elephantum.

Kel

Ficus tsjakela.

Kesari

Pterospermum heyneanum.

Khadshingi

Stercospormum xylocarpum.

Kheir

Acacia catechu.

Khargol

Trema orientalis.

Kharwat

Ficus asperrima.

Kinai

Albizzia paniculta.

Kinjal

Terminalia paniculata.

Kirmira

Ehretia species.

Koshimb

Schleichera trijuga.

Kuda

Holarrhena antidysenterica.

Kuda Kala

Wrightia tinctoria.

Kuda Tambada

Wrightia tomantosa.

Kumbal, Kate

Sideroxylon tomentosum.

Local Vernacular Name.

Scientific Name.

Kumbhi

Careya arborea.

Kumkum Shendri

Mallotus philippinensis.

Krpa

Hemigyrosa canescens.

Kurwat

Ficus hispida.

Kurkuti

Connarus wightii.

Lodhra, Lodhya, Hura

Symplocos beddomei.

Lokhandi

Ixora parviflora.

Maharukh

Ailanthus excelsa.

Moha

Rassia latifolia.

Moina, Shemat

Lannea grandis.

Mana

Legerstraemia lanceolata.

Nandruk

Ficus retuse.

Neem

Azadirachta indica.

Nimbara

Malia dubia.

Padali

Stereospermum chalonoides.

Palas

Bhutea jrondosa.

Pangara

Erythrina indica.

Pajarabhul

Olea dioica.

Parvi

Wendlandia notoniana.

Petari

Trewia nudiflora.

Phanas

Artocarpus integrifolia.

Phansi

Carallia integerrima.

Pimpal

Ficus religiosa.

Pimpar

Ficus arnottiana.

Pimpri

Ficus tsiela.

Putranjiva

Putranjiva roxburghii.

Ranbhendi

Thespesia lampas.

Ranaphanas

Artocarpus hirsuta.

Ratamba, Kokam

Carvcinia indica.

Ritha

Sapindus emarginata.

Sag, Teak

Tectona grandis.

Satwin

Alstonia schloris.

Sawar Sewar

Bombax malabaricum.

Sawar

Bombax insigne.

Shindi

Phcenix sylvestris.

Shiras

Albizzia lebbek.

Shiras, Kala

Albizzia odoratissima.

Shissam

Dalbergia latijolia.

Shivan

Gmelina arborea.

Sitaphal

Anona squamosa.

Surangi, Undin

Calophyllum inophyllum.

Local Vernacular Name.

Scientific Name.

Surangi

Ochrocarpus longifolius.

Tad

Borassus flabellifer.

Tamalpatra

Cinnamomum tamala.

Tembhurni (Diospros melanoxylon).

Oroxylum indicum.

Tetu

Zeanthoxylum rhetsa.

Triphal

 

Tiwas

Ougenia dalbergioides.

Tugal, Lallai

Albizzia amara.

Um, Hoom

Polyalthisucerasoides.

Umber

Ficus glmoerata.

Wad

Ficus bengalensis.

Warang

Kydia calycina.

Waras

Heterophragma roxburghii.

Wavla

Holoptelia integrifolia.

Wumb

Hephelium longana.

SHRUBS.

Adulsa

Adhatoda vasica.

Adulsa-Vilayati

Justicia roynandensis.

Amoni

Rhus mysorensis.

Amartya, Warkya

Nappia foetida.

Anantmul

Hamidesmus indicus.

Bracken fern

Ptoris accuirina.

Bugdi

Ardisia humilis.

Chillar

Caesalpinia sepiaria.

Chimnati

Indigofera pulcholla.

Chitrak

Plumbago zeylanica.

Dagadful

parmelia ceperata.

Dhaity

Woodfordia floribunda.

Dinda

Leea macrophylla.

Duranta

Duranta plumerii.

Erand

Ricinus communis.

Ghagri

Crotalaria retusa.

Ghaneri, Tanatani

Lantana camara.

Ghatbor

Zizyphus xylopyra.

Ghaypat

Agave sisalana.

Harki

Rauwolfia serpentina.

Hasoli, Asolin, Shirul

Grewia microcos.

Henkal

Gymnosporia montana.

Huli, Gowari

Hibiscus furcatus.

Local Vernacular Name.

Scientific Name.

Ingali

Gymnosporia emarginata.

Jephali

Jatropha curcas.

Kanguli, Bandgul

Loranthus longiflorus (on teak, ain amba and Kumbhi) L. cunearus (on Kinjal).

Kanheri

Nerium odorum.

Kanphulia, Bisur

Callicarpa lanata.

Kankuti

Flemingia strobilifera.

Kare

Webera corymbosa.

Karhi-Nimb

Murraya koenigii.

Kari, Bhandire

Clerodendron infortunatum.

Karwand

Carissa carendas.

Karvi

Strobilanthes callosus.

Kate-ringani

Solanum xanthocarpum.

Kaundal

Trichosanthes palmata.

Kavli

Phyllanthus reticulatus.

Kevani

Helicteres isora.

Kusari

Jasminum arboresoens.

Lal Chameli

Quisqualis indica.

Lajalu

Mimosa pudica.

Madzhing

Dolichondronl falcata.

Mahalunga

Citrus medica.

Mondie

Lawsonia alba.

Morbel

Clematis triloba.

Moriel

Clematis gouriana.

Nagphani

Opuntia dilleni.

Nakchikni

Maravellia zeylanica.

Neptad

Capparis aphylla.

Nigdi

Vitex trifolia.

Nil

Indigofera tinctoria.

Nivdung

Euphorbia neriifolia.

Nivdung

Euphorbia antiquorum.

Pandhari

Murraya exotica.

Pandharphali

Flueggia microcarpa.

Pitkuli

Eugenia zeylanica.

Pitkuli Pendgul

Ixora coccinea.

Pilu Katri

Salvadora oleocides.

Pithori

Gymnosporia Konkanensis.

Phulati

Acacia latronum.

Rametha

Lasiosiphon eriocephalus.

Rui

Catstropia gigantea.

Local Vernacular Name.

Scientific Name.

Shatavri

Asparagus racemosus.

Sher

Euphorbia turucalli.

Sunn or Indian Hemp

Grotolaria junces.

Sabja

Abutilon indicum.

Sudra

Ocimum basilocum.

Tarwad

Cassia auriculata.

Tippan or Tipani

Allophylus cobbe.

Toran

Zizyphus rugosa.

Tulas

Ocimum sanctum.

Tupa, Chichori, Panyal

Canthium umbellatum.

Ukshi

Calycopteris floribunda.

Van Kapus

Hibiscus vitifolius.

Vavding

Embelia ribes.

CLIMBERS.

Alei

Dalbergia volubillis.

Bhuikohala

Ipomoea digitata.

Cane

Catamum psedotenious thawai-tesic.

Chambuli

Bauhinia vahlii.

Chikani

Bridelia stipularis.

Ghotwel

Smilax macrophylla.

Gunj

Abrus precatorius.

Kavli

Cryptolepis bunchanani.

Kirkali

Grewia pilosa.

Kuhili

Mucuna pruriens.

Madwel

Combretum ovalifolium.

Navalicha Wel

Ipomcea vitifolia.

Palaswel

Butea superba.

Paryel

Cyclea peltata.

Pondguliwel

Dalbergia sympathetica.

Shembi

Acacia pennata.

Shikekai

Acacia concinna.

Supli

Mundulea suberosa.

Takla

Cassia tora.

Tugelmi

Ipcemia campanulata.

Unhali

Tephrosia purpurea.

Vatoli

Cocculus macrocarpus.

Wakeri

Wagatea spicata.

Local Vernacular Name.

Scientific Name.

BAMBOO.

Chiva, Tokar, Modar, Mace.

Dendrocalamus strictus.

Konda

Oxytenanthera stocksii.

Ranchiva

Oxytenanthera monostigma.

Velu, Kalak, Padhai

Bambusa arundinacea.

GRASSES.

Bhongrat

Anthistiria ciliata.

Bhale kusal

Andropogon tricticeus.

Buld grass

Cyperus bulbosus.

Chirka

Eragrestis tremula.

Chanya marvel

Andropogon pertusus.

Condal

Andropogon permilis.

Harali

Cynodon dactylon.

Kunda

Ischaemum pilosum.

Kusali

Andropogon contortus.

Marvel

Andropogon annulatus.

Hut grass

Cyperus rotundus.

Pandhari kusal

Aristida paniculata.

Pavnya

Ischoenum sulcatum.

Phuli

Apluda varia.

Rosha

Andropogon schoenanihus.

Shenda

Ischcenurn laxum.

Shimpi

Panicum isachne.

Wavashi

Saccharum procerum.

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