We had also enumerated these trees in a few compartments and also did sampling elsewhere. An estimate is around 1 lakh trees in a gross area of 4000ha and net area of 1100ha in the three valleys. It is locally called Tangsinh (Tansen) in Bhotia dialect in Byans valley. In Sumdum, it is called 'Paathri'. The nearest tree one can see is below the road between Himkhola and Narayan ashram. In Choudans area of Kali valley, dense pure patches and intermixed with Kail (Pinus wallichiana), and Khursu(Quercus semecarpifolia) can be seen in forests above Himkhola, Sosa Van Panchayat, Payang Van Panchayat behind Narayan ashram, on Rungling-Kharangdhang forest path. One can also see pure patches on Himkhola- Kharangdhang path along Jyotigad. Hiragomri, Jyotigad and Rungling Reserved Forests have several such patches. In Darma valley, one can see it across the river near village Sumdum where it is intermixed with Taxus and Abies spectabilis. The upper portion near the ridges of Dug and Sobala Reserved Forests also have pure forests of this species. In Gori valley, it is found in the tributary valleys of Jimba and Kulka valley and also in the upper reaches of Golpha Reserve Forests and Golpha Van Panchayat. Across the Kali, it is found in the forests of Rapla and Sunsyara in Darchula district of Mahakali anchal in Nepal. Forest fires not common at these cold heights, these trees are not fire hardy. The Tsuga forests were damaged in the widespread forest fires in mid 1990s, the remnants of which can still be seen as dead standing trees. However, currently, the regeneration is very good as we can see several saplings in the forests and also along the stream banks. The tree is a very good timber due to its strength, length of straight bole and a good diameter. The population structure hence consists of young saplings and very old trees. Middle aged trees are rare. The fallen trees are used by the villagers, however, most trees are left untouched due to inaccessible nature of most of the sites. The bark and wood chips are also used to make a local tea as is also done with Taxus. The tallest tree recorded was 44m high and 4m in girth at Sobala compartment no.8. 90% of the Tsuga forests are protected as it is part of the Askot Wildlife Sanctuary. Why the tree species has not been able to cross Gori Ganga and not even a single tree is present south of the Gori ganga river, even in similar habitat is yet a mystery. A few trees are planted in Lohaghat research nursery where it has not gained girth or form as in its natural range, but has started to produce cones regularly.
On Thursday, January 16, 2014 11:00:04 AM UTC+5:30, D.S Rawat wrote: > > Thank you Chandran Ji for these in situ pics. Last year I trekked in Kali > valley but did not found it. or was not able to locate. Hope in next visit > I will be able to meet this rare tree. > Here in eFI we are highly benefited with your extensive field experience. > DSRawat Pantnagar > > On Wednesday, January 15, 2014 7:30:30 PM UTC+5:30, manoj chandran wrote: >> >> I would like to add on by posting three photographs from the actual >> habitat in Pithoragarh district. It is found in Byans (Kali), Darma and >> northern side of Gori valley of Pithoragarh District, but is not found >> south of Gori ganga in Gori valley.The altitudinal range is 2500 to 3300m. >> As Dr.Rawat mentioned, this part of Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand forms the >> western limit of this species. Eastwards, it is found in Western Nepal and >> then after a gap found in Eastern Himalayas upto Yunnan in China. >> >> >> <https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sRe4fr9hKTM/UtaL3-0EKKI/AAAAAAAAAFU/n22qa2SPueE/s1600/tsuga+forests.jpg> >> >> >> <https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C1UKiRVVZfU/UtaMEaOrQAI/AAAAAAAAAFc/JgRPihjB0WQ/s1600/Tsuga+dumosa+tree+44m+tall+and+4m+girth+at+Sobala.jpg> >> >> >> <https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PiRvoPc8YSo/UtaRcitTdCI/AAAAAAAAAFs/JPs1mm0bO0g/s1600/tsuga+at+golpha.jpg> >> >> >> On Saturday, December 7, 2013 12:12:12 PM UTC+5:30, D.S Rawat wrote: >>> >>> *Tsuga dumosa* (D.Don) Eichler (Pinaceae) is a very rare conifer in >>> Uttarakhand and known only from Kali valley area in Pithoragarh district. >>> This Kali valley area is the westernmost occurrence of this species which >>> becomes fairly common in Nepal and eastward up to China. >>> >>> >>> This photograph is not taken *in situ* (in actual habitat) and taken of >>> a plant material collected by one of my student from Kali valley. >>> >>> >>> It must be an addition to our eFI database. >>> >>> >>> More details on: >>> >>> >>> http://www.conifers.org/pi/Tsuga_dumosa.php >>> >>> >>> DSRawat Pantnagar >>> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "efloraofindia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to indiantreepix+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to indiantreepix@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
