Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Garden

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU BOTANICAL GARDEN - RUMTEK, SIKKIM   

by D. C. S. RAJU F.L.S & N. C. SHENGA  I.F.S

This is a part of 750 acre reserve forest adjoining the Monastery at Rumtek. An area of 150 acres covering the Eastern slopes of the mountain has been demarcated by The Land-use & Environment Department, Government of Sikkim. A 4.4m long bridle path has been laid from  the entrance gate  near the road leading to a recreation hut and above upto hilltop behind the monastery.The terrain ranges from 1800 m to 2200 m enclosing arboreous vegetation and a gorge with hillstream.

The Sacred Grove is of temperate  Oak  forest  with Quercus lamellosa, Daphniphyllum himalayense, Engelhardtia spicata, Michelia doltsopa, Beilschmiedia gammieana in association with over 40 tree species making the canopy. A shrubby undergrowth of Dichroa febrifuga, Evodia fraxinifolia, Edgeworthia gardneri, Daphne bholua and Arundia hookeriana followed by ground flora comprising Viola diffusa, Persicaria capitata, Arisaema concinnum, Davallia  immersa, Selaginella bisulcata and others. Epiphytes like Vaccinium serratum, Agapetes serpens, Hoya linearis, Peperomia teraphylla, Polygonatum sp, Bulbophyllum gamblei, Pholidota imbricata and Dendrobium chrysanthum as well as Lycopodium phlegmaria  and Pseudodrynaria  coronans  cover mossy trunks of trees.

As many as 300 species of flowering plants  may be found in the reserve  besides  native and few exotic orchids introduced in the  glasshouse  for educational and conservation purpose..A preliminary survey  of the native flora of the Botanic Garden is undertaken to label  all trees  and orchids. Only few trees with their botanical names and vernacular names are given in the following list...

..Vernacular Name..	...Botanical Name...
Angare	Phoebe hainesiana Brandis
Arkaula	Lithocarpus elegans (Blume) Hatus. ex Soepadmo
Bandre	Gynocardia odorata R.Br.
Buk	Quercus lamellosa Sm.
Bilaune	Maesa chisia Buch.-Ham ex D.Don
Chilaune	Schima wallichii Choisy
Sato Kawla	Persea gammieana (King ex Hook.f.) Kosterm.
Jhankrikath	Phoebe lanceolata (Nees) Nees
Lal Chandan	Daphniphyllum himalayense (Benth.) Müll.Arg.
Jhingni	Eurya japonica Thunb.
Kawla	Machilus edulis King ex Hook.f.
Kharane	Symplocos lucida (Thunb.) Siebold & Zucc.
Mawa	Engelhardtia spicata Lechen ex Blume
Malata	Macaranga denticulata (Blume) Müll.Arg.
Malaigiri	Cinnamomum glanduliferum (Wall.) Meissn.
Thule pahenle	Litsea elongata (Nees) Hook.f.
Patle Champ	Quercus lancifolia Roxb.
Phusre Champ	Magnolia doltsopa (Buch.-Ham. ex DC.) Figlar
Pipli	Exbucklandia populnea (R.Br. ex Griff.) R.W.Br.
Rani Champ	Magnolia lanuginosa (Wall.) Figlar & Noot.
Tite Champ	Magnolia cathcartii (Hook.f. & Thomson) Noot.
Tarsing	Beilschmiedia gammieana King ex Hook.f
Tuni	Toona ciliata M .Roem.
Sindure	Mallotus philippensis (Lamk.)Muell._Arg.

(TEXT OF BROCHURE ISSUED BY BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIA,

GANGTOK, SIKKIM)

GARDEN OPENED BY

H. E. SRI RAJESWAR MUDALIAR, I.P.S. GOVERNOR OF SIKKIM

ON

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY - 5TH JUNE, 1987

D.C.S.RAJU, Botanical Survey,

N.C.SHENGA, Land-use & Environment Dept, Sikkim

Cover picture of Rani Champ (Michelia velutina DC) (the picture is not available in this web version)

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Please Note-

Sikkim enjoyed "a special protectorate status" under the

Prime Minister Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru.

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