Photo: Bharatadhikarimb · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nihaal Moktan · CC BY-SA 4.0The Canopy
The typical vegetation of the Inner Terai is Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forest dominated by sal (Shorea robusta). On the southern face of the Churia Hills sal gives way to chir pine, while on northern slopes it associates with flowering trees and shrubs — beleric, rosewood, axlewood, elephant apple and grey downy balsam — laced with creepers.
Photo: Nihaal Moktan · CC BY-SA 4.0The Grasslands
Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands cover about 20% of the park. More than 50 species grow here — including some of the world's tallest grasses, like the elephant grass Saccharum ravennae, giant cane and khagra reed. Kans grass is among the first to colonise new sandbanks, and among the first washed away by the monsoon floods.
The Riverine Mosaic
On recently deposited soil along the rivers, distinctive plant communities take hold in succession.
Photo: श्रेष्ठ भूपेन्द्र · CC BY-SA 4.0Predominate on the newest alluvial deposits along the watercourses.
Photo: Bharatadhikarimb · CC BY-SA 4.0Follow in succession — the fruit of the rhino apple tree is a favourite of the rhinos.
Photo: Sabina Bajracharya · CC BY-SA 4.0Velvety beautyberry, hill glory bower and gooseberry shelter a wide variety of species.
See how Chitwan's ecosystems have been defended — and what still threatens them.