Very interesting descriptions and beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing Shantanu ji. Japanese cedars and banana trees in the same habitat, I wonder how common is this !
regards, Rashida. On Fri, Oct 8, 2010 at 7:04 AM, tanay bose <[email protected]> wrote: > > Thanks for sharing Shantanu Da > Tanay > > > On Fri, Oct 8, 2010 at 12:50 AM, Shantanu Bhattacharya > <[email protected]>wrote: > >> Hi…sharing my experiences from the Lava-Rikisum trip, and an account on >> the beautiful flora of the region. >> >> A journey of 115km via Gorubathan from Chalsa near Siliguri took us to >> Lava, one of the most picturesque spot in the Darjeeling Himalayas. A serene >> misty hamlet in the Kalimpong sub division of West Bengal, Lava has been a >> recent addition in the tourism map of North Bengal and is getting immense >> popularity among the travelers looking for off beat destinations. We stayed >> in a resort at Rikisum admist the hills, a few kms away from Lava town. >> >> Situated at an altitude of 2100m (app.7000 feet), Lava presents a >> landscape with ultimate splendour of nature that can never be captured by >> word. The conifer forests under the worm glow of sun with colourful birds >> flying and singing everywhere the whole surrounding will enthrall you to a >> new dimension. Lava remains hidden in the mists and clouds almost throughout >> the year. It stands against the backdrop of the Neora Valley National Park. >> Attractions approached from this unique landmark of bio-diversity are the >> emerald green valleys, lakes, waterfalls, the snow-capped mountain peaks and >> the unforgettable, ever smiling helpful village folks. Lava is the gateway >> of Neora Valley NP…. a virgin, unexplored terrain in the Himalayas. A drive >> to Algarah town through the pine clad winding road and the Sunrise view >> point are simply unforgettable. Rishap, another upcoming popular tourist >> destination is only 8kms from Lava. >> >> Flora: Lava is considered at the best ecological destination in India, >> and it is the gate- way to the famous Neora Valley Nationla park. It thrives >> in wide range of flora and fauna. Some of the most commonly found floras in >> Lava are orchids, pines, Cypresses, Cryptomeria japonica, ferns, cinnamon, >> junipers, bamboo, cacti and cardamom. Evergreen alpine vegetation and pine >> trees are commonly found. Here, you can find seven different species of >> rhododendron and three hundred species of orchids. The hill sides are dotted >> with sunflower and poinsettia. >> The British planted the Dhoopi trees (Cryptomeria japonica) here and that >> adds to the beauty of the place….as seen in the pics. The tree is often >> called *Japanese Cedar* in English, though the tree is not related to the >> cedars (*Cedrus*). In Darjeeling district and Sikkim in India, where it >> is one of the most widely growing trees, *Cryptomeria japonica* is called >> *Dhuppi* and is favoured for its light wood, extensively used in house >> building. It is a very large evergreen tree, reaching up to 70 m (230 ft) >> tall and 4 m (13 ft) trunk diameter, with red-brown bark which peels in >> vertical strips. The leaves are arranged spirally, needle-like, 0.5–1 cm >> (0.20–0.39 in) long; and the seed cones globular, 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) >> diameter with about 20–40 scales. It is superficially similar to the related >> Giant Sequoia (*Sequoiadendron giganteum*), from which it can be >> differentiated by the longer leaves (under 0.5 cm in the Giant Sequoia) and >> smaller cones (4–6 cm in the Giant Sequoia), and the harder bark on the >> trunk (thick, soft and spongy in Giant Sequoia).Sugi (and Hinoki) pollen is >> a major cause of hay fever in Japan.Sugi has been so long-cultivated in >> China that it is thought by some to be native there. Forms selected for >> ornament and timber production long ago in China have been described as a >> distinct variety *Cryptomeria japonica* var. *sinensis* (or even a >> distinct species, *Cryptomeria fortunei*), but they do not differ from >> the full range of variation found in the wild in Japan, and there is no >> definite evidence the species ever occurred wild in China. >> The hills turn red with the Rhododendron blossoms during spring. >> >> We have also seen banana trees growing at such high altitudes. (refer >> image 2) >> >> >> >> Images: 1. Dhoopi trees (Cryptomeria japonica) >> 2. The vegetation of Lava from our resort…..check out the >> banana tree. >> >> >> >> 3. Standing infront of the Dhupi plantations >> >> 4. Lycopodium >> >> 5. A spectacular view of the Kanchenjungha peak >> >> 6. The mist shrouded coniferous forests of Lava >> >> 7. the winding road bordered by pines >> >> 8.Rhododendron arboreum >> >> 9. Close up of Cryptomeria (male) >> >> >> >> Regards >> >> Shantanu : ) >> >> >> >> Shantanu Bhattacharya. >> B.Sc, M.Sc (Zoology) >> University of Calcutta. >> Teaching Faculty. >> Dept. of Biology. >> Vivekananda Mission School(ICSE). >> Joka. Kolkata. >> >> >> > > > > -- > *Tanay Bose* > Research Assistant & Teaching Assistant. > Department of Botany. > University of British Columbia . > 3529-6270 University Blvd. > Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 (Canada) > Phone: 778-323-4036 (Mobile) > 604-822-2019 (Lab) > [email protected] > >
