Sindian BioProvince

This BioProvince (as defined by Armen Takhtajan) more or less coincides with the Indus Plain and includes the Province of Sind (Pakistan), the plains of Punjab, the Thar Desert, Hariana, western Rajasthan and Northern Gujarat. In the southeast the boundary passes east of Mehsana through the vicinity of Godhra and Dabhoi. It then turns southwest extending to the Gulf of Cambay. The geology is complex and varied, while the climate is characterised by extremes of temperature with severe droughts, high wind velocity and low humidity, and evaporation far exceeds precipitation. In winter the temperature sometimes falls below freezing while summer heat can be scorching. Despite the relatively large size of this area the flora is relatively poor with no endemic genera and just a handful of endemic taxa including Abutilon cornutum, Abutilon fruticosum var. chrysocarpa, Abutilon indicum var. major, Acacia jacquemontii, Aerva pseudo-tomentosa, Alysicarpus monilifer var. venosus, Ammania desertorum, Anogeissus rotundifolia, Anticharis glandulosa var. caerula, Aristida adscensionis var. pumila, Aristida royleana, Barleria prionitis var. dichantha, Cadaba fruticosa, Cleome gynandra var. nana, Convolvulus scindicus, Corallocarpus conocarpus, Cucumis melo var. momoridica, Dipteracanthus patulus var. alba, Eragrostis ciliaris var. brachystachya, Euphorbia jodhpurensis, Glossocordia setosa, Haloxylon multiflorum, Hibiscus punctatus, Ipomoea sindica, Lasiurus ecaudatus, Malhania magnifolia, Moringa concanensis, Pavonia arabica var. glutinosa, Pluchea wallichiana, Polygonum plebejum var. sindicum, Psoralea odorata, Pulicaria rajputanae, Rhyncochosia rhombifolia, Sida tiagii, Tephrosia falcifomis, Trianthema pentendra var. flava, Tribulus rajasthanensis and Zizyphus truncata.

The following accounts for this BioProvince have been written or will be written with particular reference to endemic and locally important species. Accounts available are displayed in green or yellow. Those displayed in red are either in the pipeline or awaiting expert contributions.

 

Index
Major Ecosystems
Vascular Plant Flora
Bryophyte Flora
Fungus Flora
Lichen Flora
Invertebrate Fauna
Amphibian Fauna
Reptile Fauna
Bird Fauna
Mammal Fauna
Conservation Status