Shola grasslands are found primarily in:

Concept

A shola is a tropical montane ecosystem in which patches of stunted evergreen forest occur in sheltered valleys amid rolling high-elevation grasslands. Its distribution depends on the cool, moist climate and terrain of southern India’s upper hills.

Application

The high-elevation landscape of the Western Ghats, especially the southern ranges, supports this characteristic forest–grassland mosaic. Therefore, shola grasslands are associated with the Western Ghats.

Contrast

• The Eastern Ghats are discontinuous uplands and are not the principal region identified with the shola forest–grassland mosaic.

• The Himalayas contain alpine and subalpine grasslands, but these belong to a different climatic and biogeographic system.

• The Vindhyans are central Indian uplands with vegetation distinct from the southern montane shola system.

Cross-check

Shola landscapes are classically described from high ranges such as the Nilgiri, Anamalai and Palani Hills, all of which form part of the Western Ghats. Hence the result is the Western Ghats.