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PHYSICAL FEATURES AND NATURAL RESOURCES
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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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