Question

Vegetal cover in Rajasthan Plain region is due to _________.
A. Winds blow with high velocity
B. Very high temperature
C. Dry climate
D. Scanty rainfall

Answer 1

Hint: Tropical thorn forests consist of a variety of grasses and shrubs. These forests occur in semi-arid areas of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, southwest Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
Tropical thorn forests occur in areas that receive scanty rainfall, less than 50 cm. For the most part of the year, plants remain leafless in these forests and give an expression of scrub vegetation. Palas, neem, babool, khejri, ber, khair, wild date palm, etc. are the important species here. Up to a height of 2 m, Tussocky grass grows as the undergrowth. The desert and semi-desert areas of Rajasthan are known for a wide variety of thorny bushes, acacias, euphorbias, cactii, and thorny trees and vegetation. The vegetation of India changes from one region to another depending upon the variations in the climate and the soil. Trees in these forests have long roots penetrating deep into the soil in order to get moisture. The stems also are succulent to conserve water and the leaves are small and thick to minimize evaporation. The common animals in these forests are mice, rats, tigers, foxes, wolves, lions, wild ass, horses, and camels. Short and small vegetation is usually found here along with a few tall trees set against the sparse ground where grass lacks.

Thus, option (D) is correct.

Note: A thorn forest is dense. The scrub like vegetation is the characteristic of warm temperate and dry subtropical areas with scanty rainfall. The plants and trees have adapted to the semi-arid and arid nature of the land.