Which tropical deciduous tree species is especially characteristic of the Deccan plateau region of India?

Introduction / Context:

This question belongs to Indian physical geography and vegetation. Different climatic regions in India support distinctive natural vegetation types, such as tropical evergreen forests, tropical deciduous forests and coniferous forests. The Deccan plateau is associated with tropical deciduous forests, and certain tree species are considered typical of this region. Identifying these trees is important for questions related to forest types, biogeography and natural resources.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The Deccan plateau has a tropical monsoon climate with distinct wet and dry seasons.
• Such a climate supports tropical deciduous forests, sometimes called monsoon forests.
• The options list common Indian trees: teak, shisham, sandalwood, sal and deodar.
• We assume the question refers to species widely recognised as characteristic of Deccan tropical deciduous forests.

Concept / Approach:

Tropical deciduous forests shed their leaves during the dry season to reduce water loss. In the Deccan plateau and central India, teak is one of the most important and widespread species in these forests. Teak forests are economically valuable for timber and are often mentioned as characteristic of the region. Sal, in contrast, is more typical of eastern and northern India. Deodar belongs to Himalayan coniferous forests and is not a tropical deciduous tree. The approach is to match each species with its typical region and forest type.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Indian geography textbooks often describe tropical deciduous forests of the Deccan with phrases like extensive stands of teak. Maps of forest cover show large teak bearing areas in central and southern India. Sal dominated forests, by contrast, appear mainly in the eastern parts and northern plains. Deodar is mapped in high altitude Himalayan regions. These references confirm that teak is the special tropical deciduous tree commonly linked with the Deccan plateau.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Shisham is an important timber tree found in the plains of northern India, along river banks, and is not the classic symbol of the Deccan plateau forests. Sandalwood is a valued tree of the southern states but is not usually described as the characteristic tropical deciduous species of the Deccan monsoon forests. Sal forests dominate eastern and northern hill regions rather than the Deccan. Deodar is confined to Himalayan altitudes and belongs to coniferous forests, not deciduous monsoon forests. Therefore, these options do not fit the specific emphasis of the question.

Common Pitfalls:

Students may confuse forest types when they focus on the economic importance of timber trees rather than their ecological distribution. For example, sandalwood is valuable but not as widespread as teak in the Deccan. Others may mix up sal and teak because both are used as timber. Remembering simple associations such as teak Deccan and sal eastern India helps avoid these mistakes.

Final Answer:

The tropical deciduous tree especially characteristic of the Deccan plateau is Teak.