The evergreen forests are distributed all over the State, and they grow even up to 1372 m elevation on the Western Ghats. At lower elevation, however, this type merges imperceptibly into the tropical semi-evergreen forests, which is an intermediate type between the wet Evergreen and the Moist Deciduous forests. At higher elevation the wet Evergreen merge into Shola forests and they in turn pass on to mountain grassy lands (lyppan. 1960). Dry type forest are limited to the portions -in the leeward side of the Ghats, and the two main dry localities in the State are the Walayar and Anjanad Valleys in north Kerala.
Five types of forests which are the products of variation in topography, soil and rainfall, have been identified in Kerala (Innes, 1951). They constitute the Deciduous forests of the plains, Evergreen forests of the Ghat slopes, Evergreen Shola forests, Bamboo forests of the Wynad, and the Deciduous forests of the Wynad and Attappadi valley. The Deciduous forests occur along the plains and lower Ghat slope extending upto the hill sides up to 457 m above M.S.L. They are also found along the river banks. The Evergreen forests of the Ghat slopes are seen on the western and eastern slopes of the Western Ghats right from foot hills upto 1220 m a.s.l. The forest growth is magnificent where the rainfall is very heavy, and in some places the rainfall exceeds 7500 mm. The trees are evergreen with abundance of epiphytic orchides, mosses, ferns, rattans, tree ferns, climbing ferns and creepers.
Evergreen Shola forests are noted on all the higher slopes of the Ghats including the Brahmagiri range and also in the highest parts of the Attappadi valley between the altitude of 1067 and 1829 m.a.s.l. Fern and mosses are abundant in these forests but the orchids are poorly represented. Families such as Myrtaceae, Lauraceae, and Styracaceae are dominant. Luxuriant growth of Arundinaria Wightiana Ness, Reed bamboo in this forest is significant. Bamboo forests are found in the marroco belt lying east of the Ghat where the rainfall ranges from 1500 to 2500 mm. The forest stretches from the foot of the Nilgiris on the south to the Brahmagiri on the north. The most dominant species is Bambusa arundinacea wild which is the common bamboo still widely used by tribes for various pur¬poses in their day to day life. The uncultivated swampy lands are dominated by Pandanus Odoratissimus Roxb, Melastoma malabaricum, Linn, and Ligodium. Deciduous forests are found in the Wynad plateau and in the lower portion of Attappadi valley.
Some of the important cultivated crops in Kerala come under certain types of cereals, pulses, oil seed crops, miscellane¬ous crops, ugars, condiments and species, fibre crops and narcotics. Oryza sative Lmn, Rice is the most important cereal crop which is being cultivated in almost all parts of Kerala.
Cocos nucifere Linn, Coconut grows luxuriously in all districts except Palghat where Borassus-fiabellifer Linn, Palmera grows most. Coconut growth is profuse in the coastal region and in the Midlands, and it is the most important among all the oil seed crops and fibre crops in the State.
Artocarpus integrifolia Linn. f., lack, plavu, Mangifera indica Linn, Mango tree, Mavu; Anacardium occidentala Linn, Cashew tree, Parankimavu; Musa sapizntum Linn, Banana, Vazha; Monihot Utllissima Pohl, Tapioca, Ivlarakizhangu; Ipomoea batatas Linn, sweet potato, Mathura Kizhangu and Yams, kachil are some of the important miscellaneous food crops cultivated in the state. Saecharum sp. sugarcane, karimbu is being cultivated in ceitain parts Kerala has been very famous for her condimens and spices since earlier times. Piparnigrum Linn, Pepper, kurumulaku; Zingiber officianalis Rose, Ginger, Inchi; Curcuma longa Linn, Turmeric; puli; and Allium cepa Linn, Onion, Ulli are some of the very important amongst them. Areca catechu Linn, Aracanut, Adakkamarum is one of the important narcotics extensively cultivated all over Kerala.
The forest and hilly regions of Kerala still abound with a large variety of fauna even though the advance of cultivation and deforestation driving them much interior to the forests. Some of the important animals still thrive in the interior forests include Panthera tigris Linnaeus, Tiger, Kaduva; Melursus ussinus shaw, sloth Bear, karadi; Pauthera pardus Linnacus, Leopardi, pu1i; and Elephas nzaximus Linnaeus, Indian Ele¬phant, Ana Boss ganrus H. Smith, Gur, Kattu Pottu is common in north Wynad and Nilambur. Sus cristalus Wagner, will Boar, Kattupanni; Hemitragus hylocrius Oglilby, Nilgiri Tahr, Kattadu; Felis chaus Guldenstaedt, Jungle cat, Kattu poocha; and Cuon alpinns Pallas, Indian wild dog, chennai are seen in interior and foot hilts of the Western ghats in north Kerala. Kattadu is commonly found on the slapes of the Kundaha, the hills surrounding the Attappadi valley and in the sides of the Palghat gap.
Among the Squirrels Ratufu indica Erxluben, Indian Giant squirrels or Malabar squirrels, Annan are generally found in north Kerala. Other types in Kerala include Ratufa macronra Penuant, Grizzlad, Indian squirrel and Funambulus suflineatus Waterhouse, Dusky stripped squirrel. Cervus nuicolor Keer, sambar, Kalaman is the largest of the deer tribe. Axis axis Erxleben, chital, Pulliman is abundant especially in the Nilambur forests. Tragulus meminna Erxleben, Mouse-deer, Kezhaman is widely distributed.
Among the lesser denizens of the jungles monkeys and lemurs are well represented in the Ghat forests. Presbytis johni Fischer, Nilgiri langur, Karin Kurangu: Macaca radiata Geoffroy, Macaque, Vella kurangu, and Loris malabaricus Wroughton, slender Loris, Kuthitevangu are common in the forests. Canis anrens Linnaens, Jackal, Kurukan is a familiar animal rearing over hilly scrubs and low country. Herpestes edwardsi Geoffrey, Indian Grey Mangoose, Kiri is the commonest mangoose found all over the forests and foot hills.
A number of varieties of birds are seen throughout Kerala, and some of them commonly found include Pavo cristatus Linnacus, common Peafowl, Myle; Psittacula cyanocephala Linuacus, Parakeet, Thatta; Gracula religiosa Linnacus, Hill¬Myna, Kattu Myna; Acidotheres tristis Linnaeus, common Myna, Myna; Motacilla maderaspalensis Linnaceus, wood packer, Maramkotthi; Athena brama Temminck, Spotted owlet, Munga; Milvus migraus Boddaert, Pariahkite, Parunthu; Corvus splendeus vieillot, Hougecrow, kakka: Corvus macrorhynchos Wagler, Jungle-crow, Bali-kakka; hrcruius mrrcrocercus Vieillot, king crow, kakka keel, Eudyr,cn,is scolopaceus Linnaeus, Keel; Centropus sineusis Stepheus, Coucal, Uppan; and Motacilla maderaspalensis Gamelin, Waglail, Kokku.
Kerala is rich in fresh water and marine-water fishes. The rivers and back-waters are full of various types of fresh-water fishes. The long coast line of Kerala is a source of different kinds of marine fishes. The people in Kerala generally use varieties of marine and fresh-water fishes. Some of the commonly used fresh water fishes include Etroplus suratensis Bloch, Chromides, karimeen; Ophicephalus marulius Ham, Murrels, Bral; Etropliis maculatus cuv & val, chromides, Pallathi; Alacrone seenghala sykes, cat-fis i, Karatta; Arius dussun2ieri cuv and Val, cat-fish Thedu;--Wallago attu Bleeker. Cat-fish, Attu-vala; D7ugil carinatus cuv & val, Mugil Junna: Mugil belarzak Bleeker, Mugil, Mala; and Mugil cephalus Linn, Mugil, Tirutha.
The marine fishes which are generally used by the people are Thynnus thunnina cuv & val, Tunny-fish, Ayila; Pseudo¬sciaena Coitor Ham, Jewfishes, kora; Engraulis indicus V. Hassett, Clupea, Netholi, Chirocentrus dorab Forsk, Clupea, Muliuva!a; Clupea ilish Ham, Clupea, Paluva; Dussumieria acuta Cuv & val, clupea, chala; Sardinella longiceps cuv & cal, clupca, Nallamathi; Carcharias gangetious Blyth, Shask, Sravu; Late,; Calcarifer Gunther, Sea perches, chempalli; Lactarius deticatulus cuv & val, white fish, Parava; stromateoides cine¬reus Bleeker, Silver promfret Avoli; Sillago sihama Ripp. Sandwhitmg, Mural; Dorosoma nasus Bleeker. Clupea Noonah; and Trygon zugei Mull & Heule, whip Rays, Threndi etc.
