Table Of ContentBULL. BOT.S URV, INDIA
VoI. 43, Nos. I -4': pp. d3- I SO, 2001.
MANGROVES OF GUJARAT
M.J . K~THAAKYII) K. M. RAO
Buturlic.tri SIIVVq~fJlt ~~Piiu~,]'.,.
of the ground covered by sea water.
INTRODUCTION
Tomlinson (1 986) defined Mangroves
"Either to the constituent of plant of tropical
The term 'mangrovet is derived from the
intertidal forests communities or to the
word 'mangal' and Portuguese word for
community itself." According to Banerjee
mangrove is 'manguet. ~ccordingt o
Chapman ( 1976) 'Mangal' -m eans the forest et al. ( 1989). Mangroves are a group of salt
- tolerant plant species which occur in the
formation and Mangrove indicates intertidal
tropical and subtropical intertidal estuarine
plants. But in Portuguese and French the term
regions, sheltered coastlines and creeks and
'Mangal, 'Mangue, Paletuvier and Manglier
are dominated by partly submerged
used for forest community and the individual
sclerophyllous plant sp.ecies which are
plant species. The term Mangrove forest is
taxo~~on~iyc aulnlr elated.
nothing but the synonym of the tidal forest
(Mepham & Mepham, 1984).
There are two types of mangrove
formation :
There are various definitions regarding
mangroves. According to Aubreville (1 9701, (i) S,varttpy or true mangroves which
the mangroves are coastal tropical formations are situated below the high tide level and
found along the boarder of sea and lago~ns submerged by sea water twice a day.
reaching up to the edges of {he rivers to the
-
(ii) Tidal or true rtiangroves which are
point where the water is saline, growingin
submerged only during spring tide or
swampy soils and covered by the sea during
- cyclones or by exceptional tide which is
high tides. Balsco et a!. (1975) defined the
usually dominated by herbaceous plants of
mangrove is the name given to a type of
the family Chenopodinceae (eg. SUAEDspAp .)
coastal woody vegetation that fringes muddy
and Aizoaceae (eg. Sesuviitm
saline shores and estuaries in tropical and
portulacastrutrl).
subtropical regions and at a high tide much
Date of receipt : 05/09/200 1. Date of acceptance : 19/12/200 1.
BULLETIN OF THE BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
200 11 KOTHARI AND RAO : MANGROVES OF GUJARAT 85
Though Puri (1960) has considered et al. (1990), Kothari (19 9 1, 1999, Kothari
Beach forests of CASUARIsNpA., THESPESsIpA. & Rao (1991, 1994 a, b ; 1999, Kothari &
etc. as a subdivision of the Mangrove forests Singh (1995, 1998), Nayak et al. (1996),
of India, the mangroves may be differentiated Naskar & Mandal (1999). However, a
from them as there is no tidal flow like that detailed information on Mangroves of Gujarat
of pure mangrove formations. is not available. Therefore, Botanical Survey
of India, Western Circle, Pune has taken up
Floristic studies in Gujarat is done by a
the project and an attempt is made here by
number of workers. To mention a few, Cooke
the present authors to fulfil the gap.
( 19 0 1-08) has recorded ca 450 species in his
In India, ca 59 species under 41 genera
"Flora of Presidency of Bombay." Shah
and 29 families comprise the major and
(19 78) has described 1800 species in his
significant part of Indian mangrove flora. Of
"Flora of Gujarat State". Raghavan et al.
these, 34 species of mangroves are present
( 1981 ) have enumerated 1964 species. Other
along the east coast and 25 species along the
noteworthy books are Forest Flora of Gujarat
west coast of India (Banerjee et al. 1989).
State (Pate1 R. I., 1971), Checklist of
Saurashtra (Santapau and Janardhanan, However, Tomlinson (1986) has
1966), Plants of Kutch & their utility critically analysed and stated that these
(Thaker, J. I., 1926) etc. Coastal vegetation mangroves of the cosmopolitan basis are
of Kutch in particular is known through the basically two types, i.e. (a) 'the major
works of Blatter (1 908-09), Jain et al. (1960 elements of mangals' and (b) 'the minor
a., b., 1968) etc., while Sahrashtra coast from elements of mangals', (c) the third category
ecological point of view is studied by Rao is 'mangal associates' or 'mangrove
er a[. t1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 197 1, 1974). associates', including the coastal species, like
Accounts of Gujarat coast (south of river 'back mangal', salt marsh flora. 'wet coastal
Narmada) is known through the works of communities', beach or coastal communities,
Toor (1958), Rao (1965) etc. Kulkarni (1959) 'low land swamps', coastal swamps' and
and Blasco (1975) have given data on swamp forests'.
ecological characters and utilisation of
Tomlinson (1986) has characterised
mangrove forests in Saurasthra and Kutch.
these 'major elements of mangal' or the 'true
The Mangroves of Gujrat coast in particular
mangroves' as follows :
have been studied by different workers viz.
Waheed Khan (1959), Qureshi (1959), (i) These have complete fidelity to the
Anonymous ( 1 978, 1992), Untawale (1 986), mangrove environment ; i.e., only grow in
Untawale & Wafer (1988), Nayak et al. the mangal and do not exit in the terrestrial
(lY89), Banerjee et al. ( 1989), Bahuguna communities.
86 BULLETIN OF THE BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIA [Vol. 43
(ii) These form the pure strands in the species from N.W. Coast. While Singh, H.
mangal community and play major role. S. (1999) could record only eight species in
Gujarat as Rhizophora apiculata, Bruguiera
(iii) Their morphological specialization gymnorrhiza and B. cylindrica were not
are fitted with the environment or habitat, encountered in his two year study.
where they grow ; viz. aerial roots for gas
exchange and viviparous germination. However, at present there are about 18
species of mangroves could be recorded from
(iv) They have the salt tolerance and salt Gujarat viz. Acrostichum aureum*, Aegiceras
exclusion mechanisms and able to grow in corniculatunl*, Avicennia alba, A. marina
the sea water inundated zones ;a nd var. acutissima, A. marina var. marina,
A. offleianalis, Bruguiera cylindrica, B.
(v) Taxonomic isolation from the gymnorrhiza, B. parviflora, Ceriops
*,
terrestrial at their generic level or often in the decandra, C. tagal, Excoecaria agallocha
family of sub-family level. Rhizophora apiculata, R. mucronata,
Sonneratia alba, S. apetala, S. caseolaris,
Regarding the 'minor elements of Xylocarpus granattrm*. Out of which, 4
*
mangals or mangroves' he has also mentioned species marked with asterix are semi or
that. minor mangroves (Tansley & Fristch, 1905 ;
Tomlinson, 1986).
(i) These species do not grow as
conspicuous element of the vegetation. Mangrove Associates or non mangrove
halophytes of salt pans are species which are
(ii) They may occupy the peripheral not strictly mangroves but are usually
habitats and very occasionally form pure associated with mangroves and grow along
strand, e.g. Excoecaria agallocha and the banks of creeks and salt marshes are ca
Aegiceras corniculatur~.z 60 in the world. Out of which ca 33 species
are recorded. Acanthus ilicifolius, Aeluropus,
Based on recent literature and lagopoides, Cunavalia maritinla, Cenchrus
publication, ca 19 core mangroves species biflorns, C. ciliaris, C. setigerus,
have been recorded on the western coast of Clerodendrurn inet-me, Cynontetra ramgora,
India including Gujarat (Naskar & Mandal, Cyperus bulbosus, C. rotundus, Derris
1999), out of which ca 1 1 species have been trifoliata, Fiiabristylis spp., Halopyrum
reported from W-Coast of India (Chawan nzucronaturn, Hcliotropiunz curassavicum,
1985 ; Kothari & Rao, 199 1). Recently Hydrophylax maritinia, Jtrncus maritimus,
Kothari & Singh, (1998) recorded ca 17 Myriostachya wigfitiana, Peplidium
20011 KOTHARI AND RAO : MANGROVES OF GUJARAT 87
maritimum, Porteresia coarctata, Salicornia deposited in the herbarium, Botanical Survey
brachiata, Salvadora persica, Salsola of India, Western Circle, Pune.
baryosma, Scirpus littoralis, Sesuvium
For the sake of convenience, the text of
portulacastrum, Sporobolus marginatus, S.
Mangroves of Gujarat is presented under nine
virginatus, Suaeda fmticosa, S. nudzgora,
chaptersheadings viz. Introduction, Materials
S. maritima, S. monoica, Tamarix troupii,
and methods Topography & physiogonomy,
Urochondra setulosa, Viscum orientale etc.
Vegetation pattern of Gujarat coast. Factors
Other plants collected in coastal regions affecting the vegetation, Regeneration,
of Gujarat are ca 102 species spread over utilisation of Mangroves, Conclusion &
among 36 families represented in tabular conservation, Enumeration of plants and
form. Over and above ca 10 species of marine Bibliography for references cited &
algae and a lichen (Roccella belangeriana) photographic evidences in the form of ten
closely associated with a mangrove were also plates A-J and a map of Gujarat showing its
collected. Results of the observations are location, district boundaries and areas
supported by 10 coloured photographic plates explored for the Mangroves. Some line
(A-J), 9 line drawings and 5 tables. drawings are presented along with the text.
MATERIALS AND METHODS Enumeration of plants includes key to
familes, genera and species for the
Two plant exploration tours to Gujarat
Mangroves ;f or a species, correct name with
were undertaken in months of May and
citation, basionym, synonym, vernacular
September 1990 for study and survey of
name, description, flowering & fruiting time,
Mangroves of Gujarat. Collection of
localities in Gujarat, notes regarding habitat,
Mangroves usually depends upon tidal time
abundance, associated plants and uses if any
of sea water. Particularly to approach the
also provided. A comprehensive list of other
areas like Pirotan Island (near Jamnagar) in
plants (ca 102) collected along the coastal
the gulf of Kutch, authors had to go there
region of Gujarat is also appended in tabular
during odd hours (i.e.a t 1 .OO a.m.) of the day
form mentioning its families, habit with
in a motor boat. To avoid leaf abscission,
ecological notes for a ready reference.
succulent plants were poisoned on the same
day. Habit, habitat, colour of the flower, TOPOGRAPHY AND PHYSIOGNOMY
vernacular names, associated plants etc. were
Gujarat State is situated on the west coast
noted. Necessary close up and habitat
of India between 200 to 25O north latitude and
photographs of mangroves and associated
plants were also taken. Plants collected were 68' to 75O east longitude. It is surrounded by
Processed in customary way, identified and Arabian sea on the west, Rajasthan on the
88 BULLETIN OF TEE BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIA [Vol. 43
north-east, Madhya Pradesh on the east, (Ahmedabad). Though local people say
Maharashtra on the south east and south, Mangroves do not grow there, but as per our
Pakisthan on the north western fringe. field observations at Goa, Mangroves grow
profusely in swampy areas where sea and
Topographically, hills of Sahyadri are river water mixes. It is suggested that
.located to the .extreme south-east. Further Mangroves can be introduced at Nal sarovar
north, the Satpura range separates the State area where tidal flow of sea water mixes with
from Khandesh tract of Maharashtra. In the river water.
north, the plains are broken by irregularly
2) Saurashtra peninsula, the central part
shaped hills which form a part of Satpura and
forms an elevated tableland. Todal Saurashtra
Vindhya hills. ~etweenth ese irregularly
coast line has 512 kms, coastline facing
shaped hills are the alluvial valleys built up
Arabian sea from Okha to Diu Island exhibits
by Tapti, Narmada, Mahi, Sabarrnati and
sandy beaches, often intercepted by exposed
Saraswati rivers draining in to Arabian sea..,
rocky shores directly facing 'sea. Coastline
within the Gulf of Cambay and Kutch borded
There are fmous hills of Gir, Girnar,
Barda and Shetnmjaya. Kutch is undulating by distinct muddy flats, always under tidal
rocky area with many small hills and with effect often giving rise to Mangroves and
the Rann of Kutch lying on the northern and saline flats. Coastal areas of Saurashtra may
consisting of expanded tidal mud flats. be sandy, rocky or muddy.
Geomorphologically, the State can be 3) Kutch peninsula is isolated Great Rann
divided into three divisions i.e. 1) Gujarat on the north and the Little Rann on the south-
main land is a rich alluvial terrain, rises from east. The Rann is a dry bed of the remnant of
the estuarine tracts between Narmada and an arm of the sea which once connected the
Tapti rivers and extends about 400 kms. Narmada rift with Sindh and separated Kutch
Northwards merging into the desert of from the main land.
Rajasthan and Rann of K~tch.
However, according to Anonymous
The eastern border is bounded by (1992) Gujarat coast may be divided into 5
Aravalli, Vindhya, Satpura and Sahyadri regions viz. 1) Rann of Kachchh, 2) The Gulf
hills. The Gulf of Kutch and the Rann of of Kachchh, 3) The Gulf of Cambay,
Kutch were perhaps once connected and Nal 4) Saurashtra coast and 5) S. Gujarat coast.
sarovar near Ahmedabad is probably a part Out of which two Gulfs constitute the major
of the sea (R I. Patel, 1971). Now also Gulf mangroves zones of Gujarat coast, with some
of Cambay meets Bhogav river at Nal sarovar more details as under.
200 I] KOTWRI AND RAO : MANGROVES OF GUJARAT 89
1. Rann of Kachchh : It is divided into 2 3. GulfojKhambhat (Cambay) (Between
regions ie, Great Rann, covers ca 10,500 krn2 latitudes 20U30N' and 2 1'30' N and longitude
& Little Rann. covers ca 3000 km2. These 70° E & 73O E) characterised by the estuary
Indus delta inundate with the upstream fresh like Sabarmati Mahi, Narmada, Kim,
water flow, alongwith tidal ingress from Dhadhar & Tapti; extensive mud flats, dunes
several minor creeks, waterways, canals etc. and scattered sandy beaches, turned this gulf
The 'Kori creek' inundate minor areas where very much diverse ecotype. Moreover high
few sparsely mangroves grow in patches tidal ranges are also much remarkable
within the height of 2 m. e.g. Avicennia features here. Foi the diverse nature and
marina, A. oflcinalis, ~hizophoTam ucronata number of estuaries these zones are also
etc. (Anonymous, 1992). known as estuarine delta (Nayak & Sahani
1984, 1985).
2. Gulf of Kachchh : The Gulf of
Kachchh lies between latitudes 29' 15 ' N to 4. South Gujarat Coast : Comparatively
23' 40' N and longitudes 60' 20' E to 70' 40'E. this coast land is unifrom but broken by
several small tidal creeks and few minor
Kulkami (1 957) has reported ca 2,483 h. and
estuaries like Mindhola, Purna, Aurang,
12,800 h. mangrove zones in the Northern
Daman Ganga etc.
coastal and southern coastal zones
respectively. This extensive Gulf of Kutchchh
Soil : Soils in southern districts of west
contains both mud flats'and cliffed ca 42
Valsad, Surat and Bharuch are deep black.
rocky islands with coral reefs and scattered
Along the coast, there is some alluvium, while
mangroves, scrub forests. algal beds and
in some parts soil is saline. In the east, Valsad
permanent water zone. Hence the Govt. of
& Dangs the soil varies from red, grey to
India has accepted as a part of conservation
nearly black. In the northen district, soil is
strategy to protect such important marine
poor, shallow derived from granites.
habitat & declared an area of 457.92 sq. krn
as marine sanctuary from Okha to Jodia. To In the Saurashtra and Kutch, the soils are
enhance the protection of some area, 162.89
formed from sheets of Deccan Lava. Kutch
sq.km. has been notified as Marine National
has a good deal of alluvium. Along the coast-
Park in 1982. Ecologically this park is very
line, saline alluvium is found.
important with its unique coral reefs,
Regarding physiochemical properties of
mangroves and other interesting flora
the soils of Gujarat, there are very few repom.
fauna. This is supposed to be first Marine
Rao el al. (1 966) has ~ublisheds ome
National Park in India (Nayak et al. 1989;
interesting results on Peram Islands.
Singh, H. S. 1994,2000; Naskar & Mandal.
Saurashtra soils are sandy loamy to silty
1999).
90 BULLETIN OF THE BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIA [Vol. 43
with moderately alkaline reaction over 7.8- and exceptionally higher contrast of 82 p.c.
8.6 pH. Organic matter is higher and ranges with Urochondra setulosa and 53 p.c. with
from 1.41 to 2.59 p.c. NaCl is 1-3.84 p.c. & A vicennia marina var. acutissima are
total dissolved solids are 1.72-3.98 p.c. typically indicating the calcarious nature of
showing the intense residual effect of sea plants (Rao & Shanware, 1967 ; Blasco,
water on soils. CaCo, varies from 7 to 2 1 p.c. 1975).
Table I : Showing soil analysis of Mangrove areas of Gujarat Coast.
S. No. Soil samples collected pH Mechanical analysis and exchangable cations
water megf 100 gm.
Salinity Organic Sulphur Potassium
matters (S) (K)
1. Haj ira 7.1 7.80 0.42 4 1 1.20
2. Victor Fort 7.2 10.00 0.84 9 11 .20
3. Jodia bandar 7.3 4.30 0.24 9 14.20
4. Pirotan Island 7.0 10.00 0.45 4 1 1.20
5. Navlakhi coast 7.1 9.50 0.52 9 1 1.20
Mean Value 7.1 8.3 0.52 7 11.20
To confirin the present ecological data, potassium ehnents for their growth and de-
soil samples ca lkg per sample from differ- velopment.
ent mangrove areas of Gujarat coast were India has ca 5,700 km long coast line
collected and analysed at soil testing section, which can be divided into west coast, east
Agriculture College, Pune as shown in the coast and island chains..A mong them, Man-
grove area of India is about 6,740 sq.km,
Table I. Mean value of chemical parameters
which is about 7% Mangrove area of the
for mechanical analysis and exchangeable
world (Gupta & Sastry, 1991). The present
cations mgf100 gms in soil of mangrove ar-
satellite based estimate of mangroves is
eas of Gujarat comprises pH in water -7.1,
4460 sq.km which indicates loss of about
salinity-8.3, organic matter-0.52, Sulphur -7
2,280 sq-km (Nayak et.al. 1996). In the
and Potassium-1 1.20. This analysis confirms
areawise ranking, Indonesia ranks first fol-
that mangroves require soil with more salin-
lowed by Australia, Malaysia, Bangladesh
ity, necessary organic matters, sulphur and and India.
20013 KOTHARI AND RAO : MANGROVES OF GUJARAT 91
Gujarat state has notified a total area of sons viz., winter, summer and monsoon are
1,324 sq.km in Kutch, Jamnagar and Rajkot visible. Winters are severe and summers are
district. Sidhu (I 963), Blasco (19 75, 1977), oppressively hot in the northern border of
Untawale (19 80, 1985). Govt. of India pub- Gujarat except in coastal tract. Average rain-
lication (1 987) and Untawale & Jagtap (1 991) fall in south Gujarat is generally more than
have reported the mangrove areas in the other parts of the State, the lowest in Kutch.
Gujarat coast as 526 km2, 200 km2, The monsoon months are June to September
400 km2,2 60 km2,3 70 km2r espectively. But in the State.
through satellite imagery (Anonymous,
It is estimated that the mangroves cover
1992), the mangrove cover area in Gujarat
an area of about 7,000 sq. km (7000,000 hec-
coast has estimated about 105 1.5 km2 ; out
tares) in the lndian territory (Sidhu, 1963).
of which the 'dense mangrove' cover area is
Out of 6,8 1,976 hectqres of India, ~an~roves
estimated about 892.7 km2. Naked mud ar-
of Saurashtra and Kutch cover a vast area of
eas or coastal lands with sparce mangroves
ca 52,6 16 hectares. Physiognomically they
have also included. Hence actual mangrove
are open scrubby mangroves (Waheedkhan,
regions may be 158.8 km2 (Anonymous,
1959, p. 97). As they are developed under
1992). The Forest Survey of India (FSI),
extremely arid climate, their bioclimates are
Dehra Dun in 1997 and 1999 estimates a
hot with a rather cold season, subdesertic with
mangrove cover about 99 1 and 1,03 1 sq. km
a very strong average annual temperature i. e.
respectively in Gujarat based on Remote
ca 12O C. As the gulf of Kutch falling be-
Sensing Technology. The Gujarat Ecologi-
ducati ion yond 23' N, an absolute minimum tempera-
cal & Research (GEER) Founda-
ture is observed 16' C. The duration of
tion Gandhinagar made an independent study
dryseason exceeds 7 months all over the
in 1999 using IRS LISS-111 data of 1998 and
coastal regions. In Jamnagar average rainfall
interpreted forest cover on a scale of 1 :
is ca 470 mm.T hc gulf of Cambay is com-
50,000. This provided accurate estimate of
paratively less arid. The gulf of Kutch has
938.4 sq. km (874.4 sq.km in the Gulf of
the largest ligneous halophytic formations of
Kutch.) mangrove cover. Western mangroves
the region. Inland, the commonest spontane-
in Abdasa and Lakhpat taluka, known as 'del-
ous vegetation is thicker and generally low
taic mangroves' are the largest tidal forests
and is discontinuous with floral dominance
in Gujarat (Sing11 H.S., 2000).
of thorny shrubs with species of Acacia,
Climate and Rain fall :T hree distinct sea- PI-o.~opisZ, iziphus etc.
BULLETIN OF THE BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIA [Vol. 43
VEGETATION PATTERN OF mixing of salt water from sea, fresh water
GUJARAT COAST from rivers resulting in salt tolerant fresh
water plants e.g. Salvadora persica L.,
Champion & Seth ( 968) 'Iassified Tarnark troupii Hole (cf. PI. H.f ig. 1).
coastal vegetation of India into group 4 i.e.
Litteral and Tidal swamp forests. This is
iii) Subtype PEE : Euhyline : Here the
Wher divided into two sub divisions viz. 4A.
highly salt tolerant plants grow under
Littoral forests i.e. strand vegetation, 4B.
conditions of apparent wetness or dryness e.g.
Tidal swamp forests i.e. Estuarine vegetation
Atrelex stocksii, SUAEDAs pp. Rao (197 1) in
(Rao & Sastry, 1972). According to Rao &
his distributional resume of maritime strand
Sastry (1 974), Estuarine vegetation
flora of India has recorded plants from Kutch
categorised under two soil vegetation types
coast are Astragalus prolixus, Spinifex
i.e. estuarine and pro-estauarine.
littoreus, Scaevola taccada, Peganum
harnzala, Tamarix articulata etc. Shah (19 78)
I. Type 4B/EE Estuarine : Here the indi-
classified Gujarat vegetation along the sea
cator plants grow on muddy habitat which is
shores and saline ground into two viz. i) under
under constant influence of tides and fresh
the influence of tides ii) permanently saline
water, e.g. Urochondra setulosa (Trin.)
soil as in some parts of South Gujarat.
Hubb.
Banerjee et al. (1989 p. 11) have also
The plant is known from Kutch and
mentioned Gujarat mangroves on salt
Saurashtra coast. During recent visit, it was
marshes, along tidal creeks and muddy banks.
collected from Victor port in Saurashtra
About 260 sq. km of area is covered under
(PI. I. fig. 4.).
mangrove vegetation which presents an open
II. Type 4B/PEpro-estuarine :T his com- mangrove scrubs (Waheedkhan, 1959).
posite type is hrther divided into 3 sub - types
based on the nature of the relief and tidal in- The major mangroves & its associates
fluence as follows : from the Gujarat coast reported in the
Government of India publication "The Status
i) Subtype 4B/PE/TM : Tidal mangrove: of Mangroves in India (1 987) are Rhizophora
This includes abundantly growing shrubs and mucronata, R. apiculata, Ceriops decandra,
tree species of the mangroves e.g. A vicettitia C. tagal, Avicennia marirza var. acutissinla,
ssp. , Rhizophora ssp, etc. Salvadora persica, Suaeda maritima,
Salicornia brachiata, Atriplex stocksii,
ii) Subtype 4B/PE/P : prohyline : Here Urochondra setulosa etc.
