¹Divisional Forest Offcer, METDB, Nagpur, Forest Department, Government of Maharashtra-440001
²Range Forest Offcer (Wildlife), Bor Sanctuary, Bordharan,Bor Tiger Reserve, Wardha, Maharashtra – 442104
³Conservator of Forest and Field Director, Pench Tiger Reserve, Vanbhavan, Nagpur-440001

*Corresponding author:Narendra G. Chandewar, Divisional Forest Officer, METDB, Nagpur, Forest Department, Government of Maharashtra-440001, Email: ngc609@gmail.com

Copyright: © Chandewar NG, et al. 2025. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Information: Submission: 26/07/2025; Accepted: 12/08/2025; Published: 15/08/2025

The present study conducted in the Bor Tiger Reserve (BTR), Wardha, documented a total of 131 climber plant species, providing insights into their taxonomic diversity, habitat preferences, and climbing mechanisms. The taxonomic analysis revealed that climbing angiosperms in BTR belong to 40 families and 91 genera, with dicotyledons dominating the flora (123 species, 93.89%) compared to monocotyledons (8 species, 6.11%). Among these, 35 families and 86 genera were dicots, while only 5 families and 5 genera were monocots, highlighting the predominance of dicot climbers in the region. Habitat classification showed that herbaceous vines were the most abundant (74 species, 56.49%), followed by woody vines (55 species, 41.98%), while parasitic vines were rare (2 species, 1.53%). This distribution suggests that herbaceous climbers thrive better in the ecological conditions of BTR, possibly due to their adaptability to varying environmental factors. The study also categorized climbing mechanisms into four primary types. Stem twiners were the most prevalent (79 species, 60.30%), utilizing stem twining as their primary mode of ascent. Tendril climbers constituted the second-largest group (35 species, 26.72%), employing leaf or stem tendrils for support. Stragglers, both armed (4 species, 3.05%) and unarmed (10 species, 7.64%), relied on scrambling growth, whereas hook climbers (3 species, 2.29%) were the least common, using thorns or hooks for anchorage. The 昀椀ndings underscore the ecological adaptability and structural diversity of climbers in BTR, with stem twiners and herbaceous vines being the dominant forms. This study contributes to the understanding of climbing plant ecology in tropical dry deciduous forests and highlights the need for further research on their role in forest dynamics and conservation. The data can serve as a baseline for future biodiversity assessments, climbers’ conservation and habitat management strategies in protected areas like Bor Tiger Reserve.

Keywords:Angiosperm Climbers; Bor Tiger Reserve; Floristic Diversity; Ecological Distribution; Maharashtra

Bor Tiger Reserve is one of the smallest tiger reserves by area in the country. It became the 47th tiger reserve in India and the sixth tiger reserve in Maharashtra State. Bor sanctuary established by vide notication No. WLP.1670/431126(a)-Y Dated 27/11/1970 and Bor Tiger Reserve was notied on 16 August 2014, with an area of 138.12 km2 as the core comprising Bor Sanctuary (61.10 km2), New Bor Sanctuary (60.70 km2) and the extended New Bor Sanctuary (16.32 km2). A total adjoining area of 678.15 km2 (355.83 km2 of forest area and 322.32 km2 of non-forest area) was declared the buffer area of Bor Tiger Reserve on 4 December 2015. Bor Tiger Reserve is situated along the southern boundary of Nagpur district and northern boundary of Wardha District of Maharashtra, and extends over on area 61.10 sq.kms including the reservoir. It represents the oral and faunal wealth of Satpuda-Maikal the landscape. Satpuda runs along the northern boundary of Maharashtra from West to East and meets the Maikal hill range which comes from kanha. It was a game reserve in past which was subsequently declared as wildlife sanctuary in 1970 to conserve its rich biodiversity. The tiger reserve represents a typical assemblage of the Central Indian ora and fauna. It comprises of good teak bearing forests with natural associates and extremely valuable mixed deciduous forests from the point of view of wildlife. The main herbs found in the sanctuary are Cassia tora, Cassia auriculata, Tribulus terrestris, Urena labata, Dichrostachys cinerea, Capparis horrida, Ziziphus mauritiana, Madhuca longifolia. The Bor Wildlife Sanctuary is home to many species including the endemic and endangered species such as Tiger, Panther, Small Indian Civet Cat, Wild Boar, Sloth Bear, Blue Bull, Wild Dog, Pangolin, etc. The avi-faunal diversity of the sanctuary is its most attractive and remarkable feature. The sanctuary is an abode of reptiles’ species of endangered status namely, Indian Cobra, Indian Rock Python, Rat Snake, Russell’s Viper, Checkered Keelback and Common Monitor Lizard.

Climbing plants (lianas and vines) play a crucial role in tropical and subtropical forest ecosystems by contributing to structural complexity, nutrient cycling, and providing resources for fauna (Schnitzer & Bongers, 2002). [1] Despite their ecological importance, climbing plants are oen understudied compared to trees and shrubs, particularly in Central Indian forests. BTR harbors diverse vegetation types, including dry deciduous forests, moist patches, and grasslandscrub ecosystems, providing an ideal habitat for climbing plants. However, comprehensive studies on climbing angiosperms in this region are lacking. Some work appears to have been done on climbers angiosperms in Protected Areas. A total of 175 climbing plant species that belong to 100 genera and 40 families found in tropical forests of southern Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India (Chellam M. et al, 2009).[2] 746 species of climbers reported in Upper Guinean forests (Jongkind and Hawthorne, 2005) [3] and the total number of climbing plants species that are found in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands amounts to 386 (Acevedo-Rodriguez 2005) [4].

1. Document the oristic diversity of climbing angiosperms in BTR.
2. Analyze their taxonomic distribution (families, genera).
3. Assess their ecological distribution across different habitats.
4. Identify dominant climbing mechanisms (twiners, tendril climbers, etc.).
The findings will contribute to the conservation and management of climbers in Central Indian forests.

Location: The Geographic Coordinates of Bor Tiger Reserve are as
Latitude: N 200 55’ 40” to N 210 3’ 15”
Longitude: E 780 34’ 40” to E 780 47’ 30”

Bio-geographical Zone: The Bor Tiger Reserve falls under ‘6BCentral Highlands’, as per the Bio-geographical classification done by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun. The details are as below:

i. Bio-geographic Kingdom - Paleotropical
ii. Sub kingdom – Indo-Malaysian
iii.Bio-geographic zone - 6 - Deccan peninsula
iv.Biotic Province – 6B- Central Highlands
v. Sub Division Region – Satpuda-Maikal Division

Forest Types: The major forest types of the reserve are as below (Champion and Seth classification)-
a) 5A/C- i-a: Dry Teak Bearing Forests.
b) 5A/C- 3: Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Mixed Forests. Vegetation: Dominated by dry deciduous forests (Tectona grandis, Dendrocalamus strictus), with patches of riparian and scrub vegetation.
Climate: Tropical monsoon, with 750–1000 mm annual rainfalland temperatures ranging from 10°C (winter) to 45°C (summer).

Soil and Minerals: The soil type is black, often mixed with red murrum and boulders, with variation in depth and other physical properties. The alluvial soil along the water courses of main tributaries of Bor River is eminently suited to tree growth. The basaltic rocks can be distinguished into two types, namely, those that are extremely compact, hard and homogeneous and the other type is the soer basalt exfoliating in soer akes. The former types of rocks wither very slowly and the small quantity of soil that is formed in such areas supports low quality tree growth. In the areas having soer basalt rapid decomposition takes place and a fine yellowish brown loam is obtained. It supports valuable tree growth.

Water Bodies and River Pools: Due to undulating, hilly topographic features the area has a good drainage. There is a reservoir at Bordharan, spread over an area of about 1500 hectares, apart from several natural water-points. The reservoir is a perennial source of water to wild animals, in addition to several perennial nalas, such as Dhanoli, Sima, Khadaknala, Bhulaidoh and Khori khapa.

The scheduled study visits to different locations for the collecting of climbers in the study area are part of the exploration of the area under investigation. It took place from July 2024 to June 2025. A number of field trips were conducted on a daily and seasonal basis to cover the entire Bor Tiger Reserve using grid method.Photographs of close-ups of flowering and fruiting specimens were gathered, and field notes on habitat, habit, flower color, local name, etc. were made. A picture album of the necessary climber specimens was created following the completion of the gathering of plant specimen photographs from the study region (Jain & Rao 1978; Diane & Leonard, 1998) [5,6] Particular care was taken to take pictures of the plants in various locations, and every location was photographed in every season.

The laboratory work was mainly in the form of comprised the correct identification of collected photographs (close up) of specimens. The photographs of specimens were identified with the help of published flora like Flora of British India, Hooker (1898) [7], The Flora of the Maharashtra state; Monocotyledons, Sharma et al. (1996) [8], Flora of Maharashtra Vol–I to IV, Almeida and Almeida (2001, 2003) [9-11]. Flora of Maharashtra State; Dicotyledons Vol–I, Singh and Karthikeyan (2001) [12], Flora of Maharashtra state Dicotyledons Vol-II, Singh et al. (2001) [13,14]. Flora of Nagpur District (Ugemuge, 1986) [15] etc.

The study involved a comprehensive analysis of various ecological and morphological aspects of climbing plants, focusing on species richness, family dominance, and genera distribution. These parameters provided insights into the biodiversity and evolutionary adaptations of climbers in different habitats. Additionally, the habitat preferences of these plants were examined based on forest type and microhabitat conditions, revealing distinct ecological patterns. One of the key aspects of the study was the classification of climbing mechanisms, which play a crucial role in how these plants anchor and ascend their supports. The climbing strategies were categorized into four main types. The first type, twiners, consists of plants that climb by twining their stems around a support, allowing them to grow vertically. The second type, tendril climbers, utilize specialized structures such as leaf or stem tendrils to grasp onto nearby surfaces. The third group, hook climbers, rely on thorns or hooks to anchor themselves as they grow. Lastly, stragglers, which may be armed or unarmed, lack specialized climbing structures and instead scramble over other vegetation for support. Furthermore, the study classifed climbing plants based on their habitat types. Woody vines, characterized by their hard, lignified stems, were found predominantly in forested areas where they could climb tall trees. Herbaceous vines, with soer and more flexible stems, were commonly observed in open or disturbed habitats. Parasitic vines, which derive nutrients from host plants, exhibited unique adaptations to thrive in specific ecological niches.

The present study conducted in Bor Tiger Reserve (BTR), Wardha, Maharashtra, documented a rich diversity of climbing angiosperms, comprising 131 species belonging to 91 genera and 40 families. The taxonomic analysis revealed that dicotyledons dominated the climber flora, representing 123 species (93.89%) under 86 genera and 35 families, while monocotyledons contributed only 8 species (6.11%) under 5 genera and 5 families [Table 1]. The predominance of dicots aligns with global patterns where dicot climbers exhibit higher species richness due to their adaptive morphological traits.

Climbing plants in BTR were classified into three major habitat categories: herbaceous vines, woody vines, and parasitic vines. Herbaceous vines were the most abundant, accounting for 74 species (56.49%), followed by woody vines with 55 species (41.98%). Parasitic vines were the least represented, with only 2 species (1.53%) [Table 2]. The high prevalence of herbaceous climbers suggests their adaptability to the reserve’s semi-deciduous forest ecosystem, where rapid growth and flexibility provide a competitive advantage in lightlimited understories.

The climbing mechanisms of the recorded species were categorized into five groups: stem twiners, tendril climbers, stragglers (armed and unarmed), and hook climbers. Stem twiners were the most common, comprising 79 species (60.30%), followed by tendril climbers with 35 species (26.72%). Stragglers (armed and unarmed) accounted for 14 species (10.69%), while hook climbers were the least frequent, with only 3 species (2.29%) [Table 3]. The dominance of stem twiners indicates their evolutionary success in utilizing surrounding vegetation for support, whereas tendril climbers demonstrate specialized morphological adaptations for anchorage.

The floristic assessment revealed that Bor Tiger Reserve harbors a significant diversity of climbing angiosperms, with dicotyledons overwhelmingly dominating the climber community. This trend is consistent with studies from other tropical and subtropical forests, where dicots exhibit greater species richness due to their diverse growth forms and reproductive strategies (Gentry, 1991) [16]

[32]. Families such as Fabaceae (24 spp.), Cucurbitaceae (19 spp.) and Convolvulaceae (15 spp.) were particularly well-represented, likely due to their tendril-bearing and twining adaptations. In contrast, monocot climbers, primarily represented by species from Asparagaceae, Bigniniaceae, Colchicaceae and Dioscoreaceae, were scarce, possibly due to their reliance on specic host plants and limited dispersal mechanisms.

The high abundance of herbaceous vines (56.49%) suggests their ecological success in disturbed and edge habitats, where rapid growth and vegetative reproduction facilitate colonization. Woody vines (41.98%), though less numerous, play a crucial role in forest dynamics by competing with trees for light and nutrients (Schnitzer & Bongers, 2002) [1]. The scarcity of parasitic vines (1.53%) indicates limited host specificity and potential constraints imposed by the reserve’s vegetation structure.

The prevalence of stem twiners (60.30%) underscores their efficiency in utilizing surrounding vegetation for mechanical support. Tendril climbers (26.72%) demonstrate specialized adaptations, with modified leaves or stems enhancing their climbing efficiency. Stragglers (10.69%), both armed and unarmed, rely on thorns or sprawling growth to scramble over vegetation, while hook climbers (2.29%) employ specialized structures for anchorage. These mechanisms reflect evolutionary trade-offs between energy allocation and climbing efficiency (Isnard & Silk, 2009).

Given the ecological roles of climbers—such as providing food resources for fauna, facilitating forest regeneration, and contributing to carbon sequestration—their conservation within BTR is vital. However, habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic disturbances may threaten certain climber species, particularly those with specialized habitat requirements. Long-term monitoring and habitat restoration initiatives are recommended to sustain climber diversity.

The present study provides the first comprehensive assessment of climbing angiosperms in Bor Tiger Reserve, documenting 131 species with distinct taxonomic, ecological, and adaptive characteristics. The dominance of dicotyledons, herbaceous vines, and stem twiners highlights the evolutionary and ecological success of these groups in the reserve’s semi-deciduous forests. The findings contribute to the broader understanding of climber ecology in Central India and underscore the need for targeted conservation strategies. Future research should focus on climber-host interactions, phenological patterns, and the impacts of climate change on climber diversity. By integrating climber conservation into forest management plans, Bor Tiger Reserve can enhance biodiversity conservation and ecosystem resilience.

Authors are thankful to Government of Maharashtra, Forest Department for support and giving opportunity for this research work. Special thankful to Shri. Srinivasa Rao, IFS, PCCF (Wildlife), Maharashtra State. Also thankful to Ms. Sonal Mate, DFO o/o Conservator of Forests and Field Director, Pench Tiger Reserve, Nagpur, Shri. Mangesh Thengadi, Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife Division, BTR, and Staff of Bor Tiger Reserve.