VII. VEGETATIONAL PATTERN

1. Forest composition

Tiruvannamalai district occupies a total of 1,36,400.80 ha (1364 sq.km .) of reserved

forest (R.F.) area, which is about 22 per cent of the total land area (Map 3). The

Tiruvannamalai forest division comprises 45 reserved forests under 7 forest ranges,

namely, Arani, Jamunamarathur, Polur, Santhavasal, Sathanur, Thanipadi and

Tiruvannamalai. Four reserved forests namely Thenmalai, Paramanandal, Mudanai and

Thamarai kadu with a total area of 17287.11 ha administratively come under Tiruppathur

Division. The forests exhibit considerable variation in composition, quality and condition

owing to altitude, physiography and biotic influence. But majority of the forests belongs

to mixed deciduous type and in a few high altitude localities the forests attain the density

and character of moist deciduous forest. The plains and foothills of hill ranges have scrub

vegetation.

2. Types of forests (Plate A)

The forest types identified in this district following the Champion & Seth's (1968)

classification are as follows:

a. Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forests - 5A I C3

b. Southern Dry Deciduous Scrub Forests - 5 I DS,

c. Southern Dry Savannah Forests - 5 I DS2

d. Dry Bamboo Brakes —5 I E9

e. Dry Tropical Riverain Forests - 5 I

f. Southern Tropical Thorn Forests - 6A I C1

g. Southern Thorn Scrub Forests - 6A I D51

h. Cassia auriculata Scrub - 6 I E4 I DS,

16

t:

:

j & ii. 'outIiurii llr\ \lied Deciduous Forests (Jamunamarathur)

- .

-- -.-

Ak-

s. Southern Dr Savannah Forests (lkariiatigu.r RE)

Plate A. Tiruvannamalai District - Vegetation Types

* 'z

.-.

;

4.

—

,

.

.-.-Southern Dry Deciduous Scrub Forests (\alasamalai RE)

4.

- V...'.•

iW-

i'. Dry Bamboo !ii.tI'. ( I'tijiL L(II1 )

l.:T

ft

IZIeW- - - -

vi. Dry Tropical Riverain Forests (Jarnunaniarathur) vii. Southern Tropical Thorn Forests (Tippukadu RE)

a. Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forests (5A I C3)

This type of forest is an admixture of species that are deciduous during summer and

found in the upper hills of Inner Javvadhu (Plate A - & ii), Patraikadu, Thenmalai,

Palamarathur, Valasamalai and Swamimalai reserved forests. Undergrowth of shrubs is

usually present but enough light penetrates to permit some grass growth.

Following are the predominant species found in this forest type. Trees: Albizia amara, A.

lebbeck, Anogeissus latfolia, Bombax ceiba, Bosweliia serrata, Cassia fistula,

Chioroxylon swietenia, Cochiospermum religiosum, Dalbergia paniculata, Diospyros

chioroxylon, Erythrina stricta, Garuga pinnata, Gyrocarpus asiaticus, Hardwickia

binata, Lagerstroemia parvflora, Madhuca latfolia, Naringi crenulata, Phyllanthus

emblica, Psydrax diococca, Pterocarpus mars upium, Santalum album, Shorea

roxburghii, Sterculia urens, Tamarindus indica, Terminalia spp. and Wrightia tinctoria.

Shrubs: Cipadessa baccfera, Desmodium velutinum, Glycosmis pentaphylla, Mundulia

sericea, Murraya paniculata and Premna latfoiia. Herbs: Ageratum conyzoides, Apluda

mutica, Curculigo orchioides, Cymbidium alofolium, Cyrtococcum oxyphyilum,

Heteropogon contortus, Themeda cymbaria, Vanda spp. and Viscum spp. Climbers:

Clematis gouriana, Cryptolepis buchananii, Cyclea peltata, Decalepis hamiltonii,

Dioscorea spp., Morinda umbellata, Rubia cordfolia, Thunbergiafragrans and Tiliacora

acuminata.

b. Southern Dry Deciduous Scrub Forests (5/ DS1)

This is the degraded stage of the dry mixed deciduous forests characterized by stunted

trees and thorny shrubs, usually multi-stemmed from base. These forests are seen in the

lower hill slopes of Inner Javvadhu, Paramanandal, Chennasamudram, Pennaiyar,

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Valasamalai (Plate A - iii), Penyamalai, Chinnyampettai, Mudhanai and Veerappanur

reserved forests.

Following are the species commonly found in this type of forests. Trees: Albizia amara,

Canthium spp., Ceriscoides turgida, Dichrostachys cinerea, Drypetes seviaria, Ficus

spp., Firmiana colorata, Gardenia spp., Ixora arborea, Manilkara hexandra, Phyllanthus

polyphyllus, Premna tomentosa, Soymidafebrfuga, Ximenia americana and Ziziphus spp.

Shrubs: Benkara malabarica, Carissa spp., Clausena anisata, Cleistanthus co/linus,

F/acourtia indica, Pavetla indica, Pseudarthria viscida and Securinega leucopyrus.

Herbs: Andrographis spp., Aristida spp., Cymbopogon spp., Cyperus spp., Habenaria

spp., Heteropogon contortus, Sehima nervosum and Themeda triandra. Climbers:

Aristo/ochia indica, Cuscuta reflexa, Dioscorea spp., Hemidesmus indicus, Jasminum

spp., Mukia scabre/la and Zehneria maysorensis.

c. Southern Dry Savannah Forests (Woodland - 5/ DS)

In some of the hills such as Paruvathamalai, Thenmalai and Karnatigur (Plate A - v), the

frequent occurrence of forest fire favours a woodland savannah type forest along the

slopes up to 1000 in This type of forest is characterized by stunted and fire-hardy

trees distributed spatiously. Shrubs are very less. The penetrated sunlight in these larger

gaps has favoured a lush growth of grasses up to 2 in

Following are the species commonly found in this type of forests. Trees: Anogeissus

latfolia, Boswe//ia serrata, Bride/ia retusa, Buchanania axillaris, Chukrassia tabu/aris,

Commiphora caudata, Deccania pubescens var. candol/eana, Dolichandrone atrovirens,

Ehretia laevis, Eriolaena hookeriana, Phyllanthus emblica, P. indofIscheri, Pterocarpus

19

marsupium, Terminalia spp., Wrightia tinctoria and Ziziphus xylopyrus. Shrubs:

Decaschistia crotonfolia, Desmodium velutinum, Indigofera spp., Grewia hirsuta and

Phoenix ioureirii. Herbs: Amorphophallus sylvaticus, Apluda mutica, Byttneria herbacea,

Crotalaria calycina, C. mysorensis, Curculigo orchioides, Curcuma neilgherrensis,

Cyanotis spp., Cymbopogon spp., Dipteracanthus beddomei, Eulophia epidendraea,

Panicumfischeri, Polygala elongata and Theriophonumfischeri. Climbers: Ampelocissus

tomentosa, Aristolochia indica, Brachystelma brevitubulatum, Ceropegia candelabrum,

Cissus glauca, Cryptolepis grandflora, Hemidesmus indicus and Solena amplexicaulis.

d. Dry Bamboo Brakes (5 / E9)

Dense patches of bamboos are found in few pockets of Patraikadu R.F., Javvadhu hills,

especially along western grassy slopes of deciduous hills (Plate A - iv). Heavy grazing of

bamboos along with grass occurs when they are green but during summer they remain

dry, leafless and thorny. The soil is dry, shallow and stony and allows mainly grasses

along with few other herbaceous annuals to grow.

Dendrocalamus strictus is the only species forming this type of vegetation. Occasionally,

the following species are found along the periphery and disturbed parts of this vegetation:

Trees: Anogeissus latfolia, Boswellia serrata, Ceitis philippensis, Cochiospermum

religiosum, Lannea coromandelica, Phyilanthus emblica and Sterculia urens. Shrubs:

Clausena anisata, Cleistanthus collinus, Fiacourtia indica, Grewia hirsuta, Pavetta

indica, Phoenix loureirii, Pseudarthria viscida, Securinega leucopyrus, Tarenna asiatica

and Toddalia asiatica. Herbs: Andrographis spp., Aristida spp., Cymbopogon spp. and

Themeda triandra. Climbers: Aristolochia indica, Cuscuta reflexa, Dioscorea spp.,

Hemidesmus indicus, Jasminum spp. and Secamone emetica.

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e. Dry Tropical Riverain Forests (5 / 1S1)

This type of forests is restricted to the margins of river and stream banks that occur in the

valleys. The trees have attained moderately greater height when compared to dry

deciduous forests. The foliage of the chief components is more or less evergreen (Plate A

- vi). The soil is usually bare sand with pebbles of stones.

Following are the primary species that characterize this forest type. Trees: Antidesma

ghaesembilla, Barringtonia acutangula, Celtis philippensis, Chionanthus spp., Diospyrus

montana, Ficus spp., Hymenodictyon orixense, Mangfera indica, Memecylon

umbellatum, Mimusops elengi, Pamburus missionis, Pongamia pinnata, Syzygium cumini,

Terminalia cuneata, Trewia nudfiora and Vitex leucoxylon. Shrubs: Caesalpinia

mimosoides, Homonoia riparia, Lantana camara, Pavetta indica, Plecospermum

spinosum, Suregada lanceolata, Tarenna asiatica and Vitex negundo. Herbs: Acalypha

fruticosa, Asciepias curassavica, Asystasia spp., Bacopa monnieri, Centella asiatica,

Coix lacryma-jobi, Cyperus spp., Kalanchoe spp., Kyllinga spp. and Polygonum glabrum.

Climbers: Abrus precatorius, Acacia spp., Aristolochia indica, Butea parvfflora,

Caesaipinia bonduc, Cissus spp., Clitoria ternatea, Combretum ovalfolium, Cuscuta

reflexa, Decalepis hamiltonii, Derris scandens, Diploclisia glaucescens, Galactia villosa,

Hemidesmus indicus, Hiptage benghalensis, Ipomoea staphylina, Mucuna spp., Premna

corymbosa, Symphorema involucratum, Trichosanthes tricuspidata and Ventilago

maderaspatana.

f. Southern Thorn Forests (6A / C1)

This is the major type of forest found in the plains almost throughout the district.

Reserved forests of Mudhanai, Sathanur, Pinjur, Radhapuram, Munnurmangalarn,

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Poomalai, Sorakulathur, Perungulathur, Arani Jaghir and Eraiyurmalai are of this forest

type.

Following are the species prevailing in these forests. Trees: Acacia chundra, A.

ferruginea, A. leucophloea, Albizia amara, Atalantia monophylia, Azadirachta indica,

Bauhinia racemosa, Butea monosperma, Chloroxylon swietenia, Deccania pubescens var.

candolleana and Ziziphus xylopyrus. Shrubs: Benkara malabarica, Canthium

parvJlorum, Capparis spp., Carissa salicina, C. spinarum, Carmona retusa,

Catunaregum spinosa, Clausena anisata, Cleistanthus collinus, Commiphora berryi,

Dichrostachys cinerea, Erythroxylum monogynum, Flacourtia indica, Gmelina asiatica,

Hugonia mystax, Premna corymbosa, Pterolobium hexapetalum, Rhus mysorensis, Scutia

myrtina and Tarenna asiatica. Herbs: Acalypha alnfolia, Andrographis serpyllfolia,

Aristida spp., Carailuma spp., Curculigo orchioides, Cymbopogon spp., Drimia indica,

Fimbristylis spp., Indigofera spp., and Lepidagathis Gristata. Climbers: Capparis

zeylanica, Cardiospermum halicacabum, Cassytha filformis, Ceropegia spp., Coccinia

grandis, Cocculus hirsutus, Cryptolepis grandflora, Cuscuta reflexa, Dioscorea

oppositfolia, Gloriosa superba, Gymnema sylvestre, Jasminum spp., Pentatropis

capensis, Premna corymbosa, Quirivelia frutescens, Sarcostemma vim male, Secamone

emetica and Tragia involucrata.

g. Southern Thorn Scrub Forests (6A / DS1)

These are the degraded forests facing frequent disturbances. The soil is of poor fertility

and an extremely dry climate prevails here. This type of forest is generally characterized

by the formation of impenetrable thickets by thorny climbers. A few stunted trees are

seen here and there. Kallay soil is more common in this type of forests. These forests are

21

found in patches and often merge with the previous type forests. They are found in

Annamalai, Sorakulathur, Tharakkadu, Tippukadu (Plate A - vii), Eraiyurmalai, Kavuthi-

malai, Nedungunam and Sengunam reserved forests.

Following are the typical species found in this type of forests. Trees: Acacia chundra,

Albizia amara, Azadirachta indica, Chioroxylon swietenia and Ixora pavetta. Shrubs:

Benkara malabarica, Canthium parvflorum, Carissa spp., Catunaregum spinosa,

Cliestanthus co/linus, Euphorbia antiquorum, Flacourtia indica and Hugonia mystax.

Herbs: Andrographis serpyllfolia, Caralluma spp., Drimia indica, Dyschoriste

madurensis, Heliotropium spp., Jatropha spp., Lepidagathis cristata, Oropetium

thomaeum, Orthosiphon thymflorus and Osbeckia zeylanica. Climbers: Cassytha

filformis, Ceropegia spp., Coccinia grandis, Cuscuta reflexa, Gymnema sylvestre,

Hemidesmus indicus, Jasminum spp. and Trichosanthes tricuspidata.

h. Cassia auriculata Scrub (6/ E4 / DS1)

Dry lands with moderately saline and clayey soils support a lush growth of Cassia

auricu/ata, which forms pure populations in certain places. This is due to selective

elimination of other associated species of the thorn forests. Trees are completely absent

or, if present, then stunted to shrub level. This type of vegetation is seen in wastelands of

Meichengam, Chengam, Polur and Chetpet.

Some of the commonly associated plants are : Trees: Acacia chundra, A. ieucoph/oea and

Cassia fistula. Shrubs: Carissa spinarum, Jatropha g/andulfera and I gossypfolia.

Herbs: Aristida spp., Blumea mo//is, Caralluma spp., Dichanthium spp., Dyschoristae

madurensis, Euphorbia spp., Po/yga/a arvensis, Portu/aca tuberosa and Tephrosia

22

t__

Uk

-.-- i -:"---'

xiii. Grazing (Adiaram R.E, Javvadhu hills)I.

xii. Forest Fire (Paruatharnalai R.E)

xi. Granite Quarry (Erai ur) x'. Granite Quarry (Tiruvannanialai)

Plate B. Tiruvannamalai District - Waterbodies and Threats to the Forests

viii. Sat Ilanur Darn (Thandarampattu)

i,.. IraI\ ur Lake (Erai ur)

-

- -- -

... -

x. Beeman Falls (janiunarnarat liur) xi. Chevar River (Kariyamangalarn)

spinosa. Climbers: Cissus quadrangularis, Hemidesmus indicus, Jasminum spp. and

Tragia involucrata.

Besides above forest types the following special types of vegetation are also found in the

district:

i. Grasslands

Most of the small hillocks and exposed slopes of the mountains are covered with grasses

leaving little chance for other plants to grow. Species of Cymbopogon are the major and

dominent composition in such grasslands. This type of vegetation occurs from plains to

500 m in hills. These grasses are heavily exploited for the purpose of thatching roof and

sometimes for extraction of oil. These grasslands face regular forest fire and because of

which the exposed top layer of the fertile soil is completely eroded leaving hard and stony

low-lying soil. These factors have created a situation, which is unsuitable for any other

species to grow except grasses. The harvested cuim bases are fired for gaining a good and

uniform growth of the grass in the next season. The predominant grasses found in these

grasslands are: Andropogon pumilus, Apiuda mutica, Aristida spp., Chrysopogon spp.,

Coelachyropsis lagopoides, Cymbopogon spp., Dichanthium spp., Digitaria spp.,

Enteropogon spp., Melanocenchris monoica, Oropetium thomaeum, Panicum

psilopodium, Rottboellia cochinchinensis and Tragus roxburghii.

j. Aquatic and Marshy vegetation (Plate B - vii-xi)

The Tirüvannamalai district consists of few major tanks and thousands of small and

medium level ponds, of which some are perennial. These water-bodies support growth of

several water/moist-loving plants in and around them. The important rooted aquatic plants

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are Aponogeton spp., Najas graminea, Nelumbo nucfera, Nymphaea spp., Nymphoides

hydrophylla, Ottelia alismoides, Sagittaria guayanensis subsp. lappula and Vallisneria

spiralis. Following are the free-floating plants common in water bodies: Eichhornia

crassipes, Lemna perpusilla, Ludwigia adscendens, Pistia stratiotes and Spirodela

polyrhiza. Some of the species prefer to grow in moist places along fringes of water

bodies, along river/streambanks and drying pools. For e.g.: Arundo donax, Bacopa

monnieri, Centella asiatica, Cyperus spp., Dentella repens, Drosera spp., Eriocaulon

quinquangulare, Fuirena spp., Hydrolea zeylanica, Hygrophila balsamica, H. schulli,

Ipomoea aquatica, I. carnea subsp. fistulosa, Kyllinga spp., Lindernia spp., Monochoria

vaginalis, Nasaea brevipes, Oxystelma esculentum, Pandanus odoratissimus, Paspalum

spp., Polygonum glabrum, Pseudorap his spinescens, Sacciolepis interrupta,

Schoenoplectus spp., Tonningia axillaris, Utricularia spp. and Vetiveria zizanioides.

Some species prefer marshy and permanently water logged habitats. They are: Acorus

calamus, Cyperus spp., Dopatrium junceum, Eleocharis spp., Enicostema axillare,

Fimbristylis spp., Lindernia spp., Ludwigia spp., Pycreus spp., Rotala spp.,

Schoenoplectus spp., Typha angustata and Utricularia spp.

Man-Made Forests (Plantations)

Most of the degraded forests and wastelands of the district are converted into plantations

of either single species (monoculture) or multi-species. Following are the species planted

in degraded forest lands by the forest department under afforestation programme: Acacia

spp., Aegie marmelos, Alangium saivifolium, Albizia spp., Annona squamosa, Anogeissus

latfolia, Atalantia monophylla, Azadirachta indica, Bambusa arundinacea, Bauhinia

spp., Butea monosperma, Cassia spp., Cassine albens, Chioroxylon swietenia, Dalbergia

24

spp., Dendrocalamus strictus, Eucalyptus spp., Ficus spp., Hardwickia binata,

Holoptelea integr4folia, Limonia acidissima, Phyllanthus emblica, Pitheceliobium dulce,

Pongamia pinnata, Pterocarpus santalinus, Santalum album, Strychnos nux-vomica,

Syzygium cumini, Tamarindus indica, Tectona grandis, Terminalia spp., Wrightia

tinctoria and Ziziphus mauritiana.

3. Special Groups of Plants

a. Epiphytes & Lithophytes

Cymbidium alofolium, Luisia birchea, Rhaphidophora pertusa, Vanda spathulata, V.

tessellata and V. testacea are the common epiphytic species occurring in this district.

Some species are having a tendency to grow on rocks. They are: Cymbidium alofoiium,

Ficus spp., Tinospora cord?foiia and Vanda tesseilata.

b. Parasitic plants

The following are the partial or total root parasites frequently found in the district:

Santalum album, Striga angustfolia, S. asiatica and S. gesnerioides. Some species are

stem parasites. They are: Cassytha Jllformis, Cuscuta chinensis, C. reflexa,

Dendrophthoe falcata, Helicanthes elastica, Scurrula parasitica, Taxillus heyneanus,

Viscum articulatum and V. orientale.

c. Insectivorous plants

Drosera burmannii, D. indica, Utricularia polygaloides and U scandens are the

insectivorous plants found in marshy places in the district.

25

d. Ephemerals

Some herbaceous species emerge immediately after the monsoon showers and complete

their life-cycle within few days. Following are some of the species found in this district:

Ammannia mult?flora, Anagallis pumila, Dopatrium spp., Drimia indica, Drosera spp.,

Hedyotis spp., Iphigenia indica, I. magnfIca, Lemna purpusilla, Lindernia spp., Lobelia

spp., Mollugo cerviana, Nervilia spp., Peperomia spp., Rotala spp., Spirodela polyrhiza

and Utricularia spp.

e. Exotic plants

There are several non-autocthomnous species planted in gardens as ornamental or

cultivated for their commercial value. For e.g. Acacia auriculformis, A. holosericea, A.

melanoxylon, Agave americana, A. sisalana, Allamanda cathartica, Annona reticulata, A.

squamosa, Antigonon leptopus, Callistemon citrinus, Cascabela thevetia, Cassia

roxburghii, Clerodendrum philippinum, Couroupita guianensis, Delonix regia,

Desmanthus virgatus, Dracaena fragrans, Duranta erecta, Eucalyptus citriodora, E.

tereticornis, Ficus elastica, Furcraea foetida, Guaiacum officinale, Guizotia abyssinica,

Holmskioldia sanguinea, Kigelia africana, Manihot esculenta, Medicago sativa,

Muehlenbeckia platyclada, Nerium oleander, Nicotiana tabacum, Parkinsonia aculeata,

Pennisetum americanum, Phyllanthus acidus, Plumeria acutfolia, P. obtusa, Polyalthia

longfolia, Pyrostegia venusta, Quassia simarouba, Ricinus communis, Samanea saman,

Senna alata, S. siamea, Solanum torvum, Tecoma stans, Tecomaria capensis and

Zephyranthes carinata.

26

L Exotic adventive weeds

Some of the alien weeds are established well on the new soil after their introduction. They

are capable of growing aggressively in diverse habitats, dominating over the native plants

and thus causing irreversible damage to the native biodiversity. They compete with the

neighbouring plants for space, food and water and finally eliminate them (Rao &

Murugan, 2006). Following are the worst exotic weeds found in the district: Ageratum

conyzoides, Argemone mexicana, Cassia tora, Cromolaena odorata, Croton

bonpiandianus, Eichhornia crassipes, Hyptis suaveolens, Ipomoea carnea ssp. fistulosa,

Lantana camara, Martynia annua, Mimosa pudica, Opuntia dillenii, 0. monacantha,

Parthenium hysterophorus, Physalis angulata, Polygonum barbatum, Prosopis julflora,

Stachytarphetajamaicensis and Synadenium grantii.

The other exotic species that are naturalized in the district are: Catharanthus roseus,

Chenopodium ambrosioides, Datura innoxia, Euphorbia heterophylla, F. serpens,

Kalanchoe pinnata, Leonotis nepetifolia, Nicandra physalodes, Pennisetum purpureum,

Phyllanthus amarus, Rorippa indica, Ruellia tuberosa, Solanum seaforthianum and S.

viarum.

4. Fauna of the district

Besides its rich flora, the district is also known for its equally rich fauna. The hill ranges

of western and southwestern parts of the district house a number of important wild

animals, while the eastern and central district harbour a variety of birds and snakes.

A few herds of Gaur (Bos gaurus, 'Kaatterumai') are found in Javvadhu hills and

Valasamalai hills. A limited number of Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus, 'Karadi') occurs in

27

a few localities like Arasanganni, Valasamalai, Melpattu, Karnatigur and Chenna-

samudram R.F. that offer shelter in outcroppings of rocks and tumbled boulders during

the hot weather and the rains. Four species of Deer, the Sambar (Cervus unicolor,

'Kadamaan'), Spotted deer (Axis axis, 'Pulli maan'), Barking deer (Muntiacus muntiak)

and Mouse deer (Tragulus meminna) are present in this district. Of these, spotted deer are

found commonly in foothills and scrub forests in plains whereas the Sambar is restricted

to thicker jungles and interior locations in the plateau. The Wild boar (Sus scrofa, 'Kaattu

pandri') is found in the vicinity of tribal settlements on the hills.

Indian porcupine (Hystrix indica, 'Mullam pandri'), Jungle cat (Felis chaug, 'Kaattu

poonai'), Wild dog (Cuon alpintus, 'Kaattu naai'), Jackal (Canis aureus, 'Nari'), Wolf

('Onaai') the common Mangoose (Herpestes edwardsi, 'Keen'), Bonnet macaque

(Macaca radiata, 'Kurangu'), Nilgiri langur ('Karungkurangu', 'Mandhi musal') and

Indian Hare ('Muyal') are the common mammalian fauna; the Pythons ('Malai paambu'),

the Cobras ('Naaga paambu'), Russels viper, Monitor lizard ('Udumbu'), Kraits, Whip

snakes, Rat snakes and Garden lizards are the reptiles commonly found in the forests of

the district. The avifauna include Grey jungle fowl ('Kaattu kozhi'), Common pea fowl

('Mayil'), Common cuckoo ('Kuyil'), King crow ('Irattaivaal kuruvi'), Jungle crow

('Andangkaakkai'), House crow ('Kaagam'), Brahminy kite ('Garudan'), Bush quail

('Kaadai'), House sparrow ('Sittu kuruvi'), Tailor bird ('Thaiyalkaara kuruvi'), Owl

('Aanthai'), Egret ('Kokku') and Cormorant ('Neer kaagam'). Crocodiles (Crocodiles

palustris, 'Muthalai') are found in Sathanur dam reservoir and different fish ('Meen')

varieties are found in waterbodies of the district (Rajagopalan, 1978).

28

Occasional visits of elephants (Elephas maximus, 'Yaanai') from adjescent districts/states

to Santhavasal, Polur and Amirthi forests and nearby villages in search of food and water

during summer are not uncommon.

VIII. ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT PLANTS

In addition to the floristic account of Tiruvannamalai district, the present study has also

brought into light a wide range of economically important plants which occur either

naturally or under cultivation (Plate Q. These plants/ plant parts or their products are

used for various purposes like food, medicine, house construction etc. They are enlisted

here under different categories of uses.

1. Cereals and Millets

Following are the cereal crops commonly cultivated in the district: Eleusine coracana

(Finger millet), Oryza sativa (Paddy), Panicum miliaceum (Common millet), P. iniliare

(Little millet), Paspalum scrobiculatum (Kodo millet), Pennisetum americanum (Pearl

millet), Setaria italica (Foxtail millet), Sorghum bicolor (Great millet) and Zey mays

(Maize)

2. Pulses

Cajanus cajan (Pigeon pea), Macrotyloma unfioruin (Horse gram), Vigna mungo (Black

gram), V. radiata (Green gram) and V. unguiculata (Cow pea) are the pulses cultivated in

this region.

29