Flora of Rajaji National Park

Rajaji National Park, now part of Rajaji Tiger Reserve, lies in the Shivalik Hills and Himalayan foothills of Uttarakhand. The reserve supports a diverse range of natural habitats, including Sal forests, mixed deciduous forests, riverine vegetation, scrublands, grasslands and subtropical pine forests.

Forest Types by Altitude

• High Altitude (1,000m - 1,350m): Shiwalik Chir-Pine forests, mixed oak-broadleaved canopy on ridge crests.
• Mid Altitude (500m - 1,000m): Dense Shorea robusta (Sal) forests, Anogeissus, Terminalia, and bamboo brakes.
• Low Altitude (300m - 500m): Low Alluvial Savannah woodlands, Khair-Sissoo along riverbeds, and tall Terai grasslands.

Common Trees and Plants of Rajaji Tiger Reserve

• Sal (Shorea robusta): The defining climax forest tree of Rajaji, towering up to 35 meters.
• Rohini (Mallotus philippensis): Crucial understory tree yielding vibrant crimson berries favoured by birds.
• Amaltas (Cassia fistula): Bursting into golden-yellow flower cascades every summer.
• Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo): Hardwood growing along gravel riverbeds and water channels.
• Khair (Senegalia catechu): Pioneer tree of riverine alluvial gravel.
• Semul (Bombax ceiba): Massive buttressed trunk with fiery scarlet blossoms in late spring.
• Bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus): Forms dense bamboo thickets providing primary fodder for wild elephants.
• Palash (Butea monosperma): Produces radiant orange blooms turning hillsides into flames.
• Arjun (Terminalia arjuna): Massive evergreen tree hugging riverbanks and seasonal streams.
• Bel (Aegle marmelos): Sacred indigenous fruit tree valued in Ayurvedic herbal pharmacology.
• Amla (Phyllanthus emblica): Vitamin C-rich wild forest fruit relished by herbivores and primates.
• Sandan (Ougeinia oojeinensis):
• Chamaror (Ehretia laevis):
• Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana):
• Chilla (Casearia tomentosa):
• Kachnar (Bauhinia variegata):