The Great Himalayan National Park supports a great diversity of plant life thanks to its wide altitude range and relatively undisturbed habitats. From the lofty pines and spruces and the great, spreading horse chestnuts of the lower valleys, to the dense cushions and prostrate branches of the alpine herbs and junipers, the Park presents an endless variety of vegetation. Although some areas have been modified by grazing, this is one of the few areas of the Western Himalayas where the forests and alpine meadows can be seen in something approaching their original state.

Only seventeen percent of GHNP's geographical area is covered by forest, because of the preponderance of alpine areas beyond tree line such as meadows, rocky peaks and snow-bound areas. However, these barren heights are usually touched on only briefly, if at all, by the average trekker. Instead, most walking is within the forest and subalpine zones where the majority of the more than 425 genera and 125 families of higher plants have been recorded within the Park area occur.

Vegetation occurs in well-defined altitude zones, beginning with the rather open subtropical forests of the lowest valley bottoms, grading into mixed forests of horse chestnuts, evergreen oaks, spruce, and deodhar (cedar). The upper temperate zone is dominated by the rusty-leafed Kharshu Oak, spruce and fir and then into a subalpine zone of birches, stunted firs and rhododendron bushes. Above that, all vegetation is reduced to grasses, herbs and low shrubs, such as juniper. This zonation effect is created by the effect of temperature on plant growth. For this reason, a given vegetation belt tends to be lower on north faces than on south faces. Likewise, moisture loving plants, such as bamboo, ferns and mosses, are more abundant on North faces, where the forest is usually very dense, while south faces support a more open forest with understory of grasses and shrubs.

The subalpine zone is richest in species, followed by the alpine and upper temperate zones. The following vegetation types can be recognized at various elevations in GHNP:
• Temperate broad-leaved forests (2,000 to 3,000m)
• Temperate conifer forests (2,000 to 3,000m)
• Upper temperate broad-leaved and mixed conifer
  forests (2,500 to 3,500m)
• Sub-alpine (Birch-Rhododendron) forests (3,000 to 3,500m)
• Alpine scrubs (3,500m and above)
• Alpine meadows (3,500m)
• Riverine forests (along the rivers)
• Temperate grassy slopes (2,000 to 3,000m)
• Temperate secondary scrub near village pastures
  and forest edges.
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Medicinal Plants

These healing plants offer both blessing and a dilemma. The blessing comes in the form of abundance and diversity of beautiful flowers, especially during the rainy season, when the alpine meadows are awash with color. The dilemma is that many of the herbs and shrubs of the forests and meadows are much prized for their medicinal properties. In the past, they were collected in small quantities for local use, but more recently better communications and a fashion for natural medicines among the wealthy both in India and elsewhere, have made the collection of medicinal plants a lucrative trade, drawing in outsiders and giving an incentive for harvesting on an unsustainable scale. At present, the Park management is attempting to develop alternatives to harvesting that will provide local people with equivalent income without damaging the magnificent ecology of the area.
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Trees
Trees largely predominate the temperate belt of GHNP. The conifer species are widely distributed at various altitudes (e.g., blue pine, cedar, spruce, and fir) in the successive low to high altitudinal zones. Each of the upper coniferous belt has its characteristic oak which provide acorns for birds and rodents. The white-oak is associated with Pinus roxburghii and blue pine; green-oak with fir and spruce. Brown-oak mainly forms the pure community at the treeline. A number of lichens and fungi occur on the oak trees which in turn provide food material for mammals and birds. Himalayan yew is most abundant in the fir forest where they give an appearance of an old forest and provide a distinct cool microclimate. Rhododendron arboreum dominates between 1500-3000 m with a tendency of preference for the lower elevation on the north side. Four species of Maple occur with a wide range of altitude from 1500-3500 m. Aesculus, alder, poplar, birch, and willows are common near the streams.
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Shrubs and Herbs
If trees give the Park its gravity, creating the outlines of the scene, it is the shrubs and herbs that provide the gaiety. Flowers are found somewhere in the Park at almost all seasons. For the avid gardener, many will be familiar, because the Himalayas have been a source of many exotic shrubs and herbs transported to Europe and North America. Among these, are the genera Berberis, Daphne, Desmodium, Lonicera, Indigofera, Ribes, Rhamnus, Sorbaria and Viburnum. Two species of hill bamboo also occur. These form dense clumps that are used by pheasants and other birds for feeding and breeding. Many climbers also occur, increasing the diversity of the middle levels of the forest.
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Lichens
A special survey to study the diversity of lichens in the GHNP revealed an amazing 192 species in the Sainj, Tirthan, and Jiwa Nal valleys. The greatest diversity occurred between 2500-3000m altitude. After epiphytic orchids, lichens are the group of plants that are most sensitive to climatic changes. The occurrence of different species of lichens can be used in monitoring forest conditions (e.g., age structure, moisture conditions, and pollution). Some lichens are harvested extensively throughout Himalaya, being used as ingredients in spices, ayurvedic medicines, and for other purposes. Every year about 10,000 tons of lichens are collected from the central Himalayan region of India alone. Commercially, the lichens are sold in the name of "Mendi", used to paint hands and other parts of the body for weddings and other ceremonies.
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Alpine Zone

The altitude above which trees no longer grow varies with altitude, aspect, slope, and other factors, but is generally above 3600m in the western Himalaya. For high altitude animals, this is one of the most important zones. The vegetation is mostly in stunted form due to the extreme cold climate and is dominated by low shrubs, such as junipers, dwarf rhododendrons, bell heather, and stunted willows. Common herbaceous genera of alpine zone again include many introduced into gardens in the West: Primula, Leontopodium, Corydalis, Pleurospermum, Saussurea, and Senecio. Berginia and Sedum dominate the desert habitats between 3600-4200m.

Rocky outcrops and ridges are interspersed with grazing meadows, used alike by domestic sheep and wild bharal. These areas are dominated by a luxuriant growth of Anemone, Thalictrum, Corydalis, and Arenaria. However, in places, heavy grazing by domestic sheep has led to the spread of weed species, such as docks, nettles and Impatiens. Their presence indicate the overgrazing in the area, as most of these plants only spread where the droppings of sheep and goats provide a nitrogen-filled medium for them.

For flower-lovers, May and September are probably the best time to visit GHNP. May is good for flowers at lower altitudes, and primulas dot the forest glades as the snow retreats. Trekking is arduous during the rainy season, but many rainy season flowers can still be seen in September, which is the best month to visit the alpine meadows. Whatever season you come, there will be something to interest the botanist. For those less interested in the details of the vegetation, it may be enough to experience the soaring forest trees: the great shafts of the firs, the wonderful spreading canopy of the oaks. This is an experience alas rarely offered in most of the Himalayas.
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