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 Floristic
wealth of the KNP and its surrounding area is rich and diverse,
both in composition and value. The forests represent a variety of
plant communities that include diverse vegetation types corresponding
to variation in climate and edaphic factors. In total, luxuriant
forests cover 36% of the land.
The lowlands in the south, between 800 feet to
5000 feet experience a tropical climate. Here lush green vegetation
can be found, including figs, laurel, Sal trees and bamboos. Some
of these areas have also been cleared for farming. Between 5000
ft and 13,000 ft, the temperate forest of oak, chestnut, maple,
birch, alder, magnolia and silver fir dominates. Above 13,000ft
is the alpine zone where juniper, cypresses and rhododendrons grow.
The perpetual snowline lies at 16,000 ft.
 More
than 4000 species of plants have been recorded in Sikkim, including
over 600 species of orchids, with the Epiphye and
terrestrial types found in the tropical and temperate zones. The
colours range from the richest to the palest in species as varied
as Cymbidiums, Vandas, Cattlelyas, Dendrobiums, Hooheriana, Farmeri
and Amoneum. The state flower is the Nobile Orchid of the Dendrobium.
There are also about 36 species of rhododendrons
found in temperate and alpine regions, at heights of 10,000 ft.
Their variety is as diverse as the sizes and colours, flowering
from May to August and covering the hillsides in a riot of colours.
They range from the giant Rhododendron Crande [over 40ft] to the
Rhododendron Nivale (a few-inches off the ground), and from the
blood red to pale white. The delicate but hardy Primula is found
only at heights of 12,000 ft. and above. Others include the giant
25m tall Guransh (Rhododendron arboretum) at temperate conditions,
and the small Sunpati (Rhododendron setosum and Rhododendron anthopogon).
 A
wide variety of woody tree species, shrubs, licans, epiphytes
and mosses have enriched the valleys. Among the woody
trees, Quercus (Oak) and Castanopsis (Chestnut) are few among the
dominant species of the temperate region, whereas Abies densa (Silver
Fir) and Rhododendron are dominant species in the sub-alpine zones.
There are some pure patches of Castaonpsis in the temperate region,
and Ghoge Champ (Magnolia) in sub-alpine areas. Apart from these,
the area is equally rich in other flowering plants such as Primula,
Meconopsis, Aconitum, Potentilla and Bistorta, which provide an
additional charm to the alpine meadows.
About 10 species of bamboos (Dendrocalamus
spp and Arundanaria spp) are used by the communities for house construction
and handicrafts. A number of wild plants such as Rhus semialata
(Bhalayo), Litsae citrate, Juglans regia (Okhar), Machilus edulis
(Kaula), M. odoratissima, Bassia butyracea (Chiuari), Bauhinia palmate
(Koiralo), Pentapanax leschenaultia (Chinde), Girardinia palmate
(Allo Sisnu), Laportea terminalis (Patle Sisnu) and Tupistra nutans
are eaten by the villagers in different ways. Apart from these,
there are about seven edible varieties of mushroom, numerous Diplazium
spp and Dioscorea were recorded to be found in the area.
About 29 species of widely used medicinal
plants were recorded from the area. Artemesia vulgaris (Titepate),
Eupatorium adenophorum (Banmara), Hydrocotyle asiatica are widely
used for different purposes and are not marketed. On the other hand,
Aconitum nepalense (Bikh, Bikhma), Berginia ligulata (Pakhan-bhed),
Heracleum nepalense (Chimphing), Litsae citrara (Siltimbur), Oroxylum
indicum (Totala) are extensively marketed in the local markets.
Picrorhiza kurrooa (Kutki), Piper longum (Pipla), Orchis latifolia
(Panch-amli), Rubia cordifolia (Manjito) are even exported through
local agents. Most of these species are also used by local practitioners
(Bijuwa and Baidya) as herbal medicines.
The area is also a source of natural attractive
materials in the form of decoratives. Roots of plants, dried flowers,
capsules, dried mushrooms, cones of conifers, leaves of fern, fern
shoots and seeds of different plants form decoratives of all designs
and types. More than 8 types of decoratives were
recorded from the area, which are mostly used for local purposes.
Dried Anaophalis contorta, A. triplinervis and Lycopodium clavatum
are widely used as decoratives during different occasions, whereas
Pollinium mollis and Raphidophora sp are used as decoratives in
houses. Cones of Pinus longifolia (Aule Salla), Abies densa (Gobre
Salla) and Tsuga dumosa (Thengre Salla) are also found to be in
use as decoratives in different form.
Edgeworthia gardeneri (Argeli) and Daphne cannabina (Lokta) are
widely used by locals for making fiber materials and tying cattle,
etc. These plants, especially Argeli grow abundantly in the low
lands of Khanchendzonga whereas Lokta are distributed at sub-alpine
zone.
The flora of the Khangchendzonga landscape consists
of five forest zones.
1. Sub Tropical Mixed Broad-Leaved Hill Forest
(900m - 1800m)
The trail head of the Yuksam - Dzongri trekking
trail starts from Yuksam (1780m) and the Yuksam village lies within
this forest type. The forest is represented by Alnus nepalensis
(Uttis), Castanopsis (Kattus), Macaranga (Malata), Engelhardtia
spicata (Mahua), Michelia (Champ), Toona ciliata (Tooni), Machilus
(Kawla), Symplocos (Kharane), Cinnamomum (Sinkoli) etc. Shrubs include
Rubus (Aiselu), Daphne (Algeri), Leucosceptrum (Ghurpis) etc.
2. Himalayan Wet Temperate Forests (1800m -
2700m)
Main species like Quercus (Oak), Castanopsis
(Kattus), Acer (Kapasi), Juglans (Okhar), Machilus (Kawla), Michelia
(Champ), Cinnamomum (Sinkoli) associated with Rosa (Rose), Rubus
(Aiselu), Berberis (Chutro), Viburnum (Asare) etc. Moss, Ferns,
Lichens and other epiphytes are found abundantly here.
3. Sub Alpine Forest (2700m - 3700m)
The tropical vegetation is left behind while
entering the Temperate zone. The lower elevation is dominated by
Lithocarpus (Bantey), Quercus (Buk, Bajrant), Tsuga dumosa (Hemlock)
mixed with Rhododendrons (Guransh, Chimal), Magnolia (Ghoge Champ)
etc. As the higher elevations Hemlock is replaced with Silver Fir
(Gobre Salla). Undergrowth consists of Dwarf Bamboo - Arundinaria
(Malingo), Viburnum (Lekh Asare), Eurya (Bara Jhingani).
4. Moist Alpine Forest (3700m - 4000m)
Bushy vegetation of Rhododendrons shrubbery start
becoming dominant. Few tough clumps of Juniper, Berberis and Rosa
are common.
5. Dry Apline Forest (Above 4000m)
The vegetation in this zone is practically
of scattered shrubs, often barren and snow covered at higher elevations.
Some dominant species are, Dwarf Rhododendrons i.e. Rhododendron
anthopogon, R. setosum, Juniper, etc. While the meadows consist
primarily of the genera Poa, Anemone, Meconopsis, Pedicularis, Potentilla,
Primula, Aconitum, Delphinium, Caltha, Bergenia, Heracleum, Iris,
Hedysarum, Myricaria, Bistorta etc.
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