20
11. Tree species
Out of about 410 tree species in Gujarat, over
230 tree species were encountered during the
enumeration in the urban areas of Gujarat. The
main tree species in order of their number are
Neem (
Azadirachta indica
), Asopalav (
Pollyalthia
longifolia
), Deshi baval (
Acacia nilotica
), Gando-
baval (
Prosopis chilensis
), Amaltas or Garmalo
(
Casia fistula
), Peltrofurum (
Peltroforum
ferruginieum
), Kasid (
Casiasiamea
), Sirus (
Albizia
lebbek
), Gulmohar (
Delonix regia
), Ardusa
(
Ailanthus excels
), Saptparni (
Alstonia scholaris
),
Pendula (
Polyalthia pendula
),
Eucalyptus
sp.
Casuarina equisetifolia, Prosopis chilensis,
Kanji
(Pongamia pinnata)
and,
Mango (
Mangifera
indica
). The number of
Ficus
species-Vad (
Ficus
benghalensis
), Pipado (
Ficus tsila
) and Peepal
(
Ficus religiosa
) is also good but there presence
in all cities or dominance in some cities are felt
due their size and dimension. The number of
the main species has been given in the Table-7.
Neem is the most dominant tree in towns
and cities in North and Central Gujarat and
Saurashtra. Number of
Asopalav
and
Pendula
,
species planted in gardens and compounds,
is high but it is not very significant in term of
biomass and canopy cover. Recently, Saptparni-
Alastonia scholaris
is planted in all cities and
number of this species is increasing in most.
The ten main tree species constitute more
than half of the total urban tree population.
There is possibility of error in differentiating
Asopalav
and
Pendula
, as in some area they
are identified by same local name. Neem
constitutes over 13.1 % of total trees in the
urban area and, in term of biomass, its share
may be much higher. Gorad occupies second
position due to their dominance in the natural
forests in Victoria Park, Bhavnagar and Indroda
Nature Park, Gandhinagar. Asopalav/Pendula
are common species in the garden and private
compound as they occupy less space but attain
a good height. Gando-baval has invaded in some
areas, especially in the fringes of the cities and
along river and streams. Deshi-baval is common
Gulmohar plantation
