Question

What are the features of Desert forests ?

Answer 1

Hint:These characteristics would include climatic conditions and important trees which are found in these regions.These are also known as Tropical Thorn Forests.

Complete answer:
Climatic Conditions: These forests are found in the areas which receive rainfall less
than fifty cm, the mean annual temperature ranges between twenty five to twenty seven degrees centigrade and has humidity below forty seven per cent.
Characteristic Features: Due to scarcity of rainfall, the trees are stunted with large patches of coarse grasses. In these forests, plants remain leafless for most part of the year and look like scrub vegetation.
 Uses of Important Trees: The important trees found here include babool, date palm, ber, khair, neem, khejri, kanju, cactii, kokko, etc.
(i) Ber: Its fruit is eaten raw or made pickle or beverages. It is rich in Vitamin C. Its timber is hard, strong, tough and durable. It is used to make legs for bedsteads, boat ribs, agricultural implements, charcoal, etc.
(ii) Babool: Its bark and gum have medicinal value.
(iii) Date Palm: It is eaten raw and also used as an astringent, as a decoction, syrup or paste for sore throat, cold, fever, etc.
(iv) Neem: Neem bark and roots have medicinal properties. It helps to cure skin infections, is effective in treating diabetes, allergies, ulcers and several other diseases. Neem is also used as an insecticide.

Note:These forests are chiefly distributed in south-western Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, central and eastern Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.