
Nepal has a variety of beautiful trees, of which the Banyan
and the Peepul are associated with Hindu and Buddhist holy
sites, frequently found beside temples and shrines. It is
considered that the original tree under which Maya Devi gave
birth to her son Gautama Siddhartha was not a peepul tree,
but probably a Sal; it may have survived into the 6th or 7th
century AD.
The Eucalyptus were introduced into Nepal
from Australia in the 19th century, and in Kathmandu can be
smelt as you walk along a street after rain has fallen. The
Spruce, an evergreen, coniferous pine tree which took its
name from Prussia where it traditionally came from; the Juniper
another evergreen is a crucial ingredient in the flavouring
of gin, and in medicines it is used as a diuretic. Laurel,
or bay tree, is well known, and, The Cedar and Deodar are
found throughout Nepal, with the cedar often used to make
incense, and in west Nepal there is an indigenous Cypress
called Himalayan Cypress. The treeline in Nepal is at 5,000
metres, and above this no trees are found.
In the Annapurna
Conservation Area are Alpine Pasture, Alpine Meadow,
Trans-Himalayan Steppe, Fire-Blue Pine Forest, Birch Forest,
Rhododendron Forest, Sub-alpine Juniper Forest, Hemlock and
Oak forest, Cypress Forest, East Himalayan Oak and Lauren
Forest, Alder Forest, and Schima-Castanopsis Forest.
In the Kanchenjungha
Conservation Area are Dwarf Rhododendron Scrub, Rhododendron
shrubberies, Fir and Larch forest, Mixed broad leaved forest,
East Himalayan Oak and Laurel, and Schim-Castanopsis Forest.
In the Khaptad
National Park are Fir, Oak and Rhododendron Forest, West
Himalayan Fir and Hemlock forest, Mountain oak, Mixed oak
and laurel forest, Chir Pine and broad leaved forest.
In the Langtang
National Park are Alpine pasure, juniper scrub, alpine
meadow, dwarf rhododendron, juniper shrubs, fir and larch
forest, mixed blue pin and oak forest, laurel and chir pine
forest.
In the Makalu-Barun
Conservation Area are alpine pasture, alpine meadow,
and dwarf rhododendron scrub, fir and birch forest, and rhododendron
shrubberies, temperate mountain oak, oak and laurel forest,
Hill Sal Forest.
In Rara
National Park are alpine mats and scrub, rhododendron
and juniper shrubland, fire forest, mountain oak, upper temperate
blue pine forest, and spruce. Mixed oak and laurel forest.
In the Shey-Phoksundo
National Park are alpine pasture, alpine mats and scrub,
trans- himalayan steppe, blue pine, birch, rhododendron forest,
larch, mountain oak, cedar and cypress forest, deciduous walnut,
maple, alder forest, steppe with Euphorbia, Royleana, Grasses
and Artemisia |