LIVING GYMNOSPERMS IN WEST BENGAL STATE OF INDIA

Abstract

The paper throws light on the living gymnosperms in West Bengal state of India. Darjeeling 
district of the state falls under the Eastern Himalayan region which is one of the global 
megadiversity centres.  Sixty-one species under 24 genera belonging to 12 families are recorded 
from the state. These are enlisted with their localities of occurrence. The distribution of 
indigenous taxa is provided. 
The state of West Bengal lies between 21045'-27016'N latitude and 85055' - 890-56'E 
longitude, covering a geographical area of about 88752sq. km. It is bounded on north by Sikkim 
and Bhutan, on the east by Assam and Bangladesh, on the south by Bey of Bengal, on the west by 
Bihar and Orissa and on the north-west by Nepal. Excepting the spurs of western hilly tract of the 
bordering states of Bihar and Orissa, the major landmass of West Bengal can be divided into two 
natural geographical divisions viz. the Northern Himalayan and the Plains Division.  
In general the vegetation of the state of West Bengal can broadly be categorised into five 
vegetational zones, viz, Subtropical to temperate forests of northern Himalayan region in 
Darjeeling, Northern tropical dry deciduous Peninsular sal forests, Tropical seasonal swamp 
forests, Dry deciduous scrub; & Littoral and Swamp forest.

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