Medicinal plants in the Tropical zone (below 1000 meter) of Nepal

Tropical zone consists of two regions- Terai and the Siwalik hills. Shorea robusta (sal) is the dominant tree of the entire Terai region. The other trees found in the Shorea robusta forest include Adina cordifolia, Aegle marmelos, Anthocephalus chinensis, Albizia spp., Anogeissus latifolia, Butea frondosa, Dillenia pentagyna and Dillenia indica. Because of soil, rainfall and climate, the vegetation pattern of western and eastern Terai are different. Eastern Terai possess Cycas pectinata, Gnetum montanum, Calamus spp., Cythea spinulosa, Pandanus nepalensis and the grassland called phanta in vernacular. Western Terai has abundant quantity of Pinus roxburghii. Places where Shorea robusta are in small number or all together missing, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Garuga pinnata, Mitragyna parvifolia, Schleichera oleosa, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia alata, Holarrhena pubescens and Mallotus philippensis are found. In the riverine forests, Acacia catechu, Dalbergia sissoo, Dalbergia latifolia, Syzygium jambos, Eugenia operculata dominate. Other trees available in the tropical region are Albizia procera, Alstonia scholaris, Bombax ceiba, Bridelia retusa, Callicarpa arborea, Dillenia indica, Ficus spp., Kydia calicyna, Lannea coromandalica, Macaranga denticulata, Oroxylum indicum and Semecarpus anacardium. In the Siwalik area, Cycas pectinata, Gnetum montanum, Duabanga grandiflora, Calamus spp., Cythea pinulosa, Pandanus nepalensis and Podocarpus neriifolius are obtained.