Shola Forests

• The Shola forests of South India derive their name from the Tamil word solai, which means a ‘tropical rain forest’. The temperate forests are called Sholas in the Nilgiris, Anaimalai and Palani hills.

• Classified as ‘Southern Montane Wet Temperate Forest’ by experts Harry George Champion and SK Seth.

• The Sholas are found in the upper reaches of the Nilgiris, Anamalais, Palni hills, Kalakadu, Mundanthurai and Kanyakumari in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

• These forests are found sheltered in valleys with sufficient moisture and proper drainage, at an altitude of more than 1,500 metres.

• The upper reaches are covered with grasslands, known as Shola grasslands.

• The vegetation that grows in Shola forests is evergreen. The trees are stunted and have many branches. Their rounded and dense canopies appear in different colours.

• Generally, the leaves are small in size and leathery. Red-coloured young leaves turning into different colours on maturity is a prominent characteristic of the Shola forests. Epiphytes like lichens, ferns and bryophytes usually grow on the trees.

• Sholas play a major role in conserving water supply of the Nilgiris’ streams.