Flouristic Realms

The Flouristic realms of the world were classified by an Eminent Soviet Armenian Botanist "ARMEN TAKHTAJAN".  According to him the world can be classified into six flouristic realms

1. Holarktis
2. Neotropis
3. Palaeotropis
4. Capensis
5. Australis / Notogean
6. Antarktis

The Holarktis is the major area which covers almost the northern world both the North Americas and the Europe n Asia.  The palaeotropis is the next biggest area which covers the Oriental realm and the Malayan Realm along the Euthiopian realm.  The Neotropic region covers the South Americas and the Central America region, the minor Capensis is the region between the Natal province in the east and the cape province region in the west.  The Australis is the region which covers entire Australian along with the New zealand and the Tasman region, the Antarkis is the region which covers entire Antarctica region.  In the regions the flora found is endemic and unique.

HOLARCTIC REALM : 
It is the world's largest floral kingdom, it covers more than half of the world's terrestrial habitat encapsulating entire North America, Europe and the extra tropical regions of both Asia and the Northern Africa.  The Plant life comprises some 60 endemic families, which are further divided into nine bio regions.

1. Circum boreal Bio region
2. Eastern Asiatic Bio region
3. North American Atlantic Bio region
4. Rocky mountain Bio region
5. Macronesian Bio region
6. Mediterranean Bio region
7. Saharo Arabian Bio region
8. Irano Turanian Bio region
9. Madrean Bio region

The major endemic genera and the families are Saxifraga oppositifolia, Dethawia, Endressia Thorella, Haberlea, Halacsya,  Jankaea, Petteria, Agasyllis Chymsydia, Megacaryon, Pachyphragma, Sredinskya, Albobiodoxa, Charasia, Gadellia, Petrocoma,. These are some of the genera of the Holarctic Realm.

PALAEOTROPIS REALM :
This Realm includes all of the Tropical region of the Old World, the plant life consists of nearly 40 endemic species, this realm is classified into thirteen Bio regions

1. Guineo Congolian  Bio region
2. Uzambara- Zulu land  Bio region
3. Sudano Zanbezian  Bio region
4. Karoo - Namib  Bio region
5. St. Helena & Ascension  Bio region
6. Madagascar  Bio region
7. Indian  Bio region
8. Indochinese  Bio region
9. Malesian  Bio region
10. Fijian  Bio region
11. Polynesian  Bio region
12. Hawaiian  Bio region 
13. Neo Caledonian  Bio region

The important and the endemic families are Dioncophyllaceae, Huaceae, Scytopetalaceae,
Medusandraceae, Rhynchocalycaceae, Seangeriaceae, Welwitschiaceae, Plagiopteraceae, Lophopyxidaceae, Amborellaceae Oncotheraceae.  These are some of the endemic species in this Palaeotropic Realm.

NEOTROPIC REALM :
This Realm largely equates with the New World which includes South and Central Americas, Cape of Florida and the Islands of Antellis.  This Realm can be classified as

1. Caribbean Bioregion
2. Guayana Highland Bioregion
3. Amazonian Bioregion
4. Brazilian Bioregion
5. Andean Bioregion

The important endemic families are Plocospermataceae, Hymenphyllopsidaceae,
Saccifoliaceae, Tepuianthaceae, Dialypetalanthaceae, Rhabdodendraceae, Columelliaceae.

CAPENSIS REALM  :
It is the smallest and the narrowest of all the realms yet rich in distinctive plant species, this region located in the Cape region of South Africa, extends from the mouth of the Olifants river in the west to the vicinity of port Elzibeth in the east.  This cape supports 8550 plant species of which 73% are endemic, some of the endemic families are Bruniaceae, Geissolomataceae, Greyiaceae, Grubiaceae, Penacaceae, Rutziaceae, Stilbaceae.

AUSTRALIS REALM :
It is otherwise called as NOTOGEAN REALM, it is an isolated realm of the world's continents and supports eighteen endemic species.  It can be classified as

1. North Eastern Australian Bio region
2. South Western Australian Bio region
3. Eremaean / Central Australian Bio region

The endemic families are Akaniaceae, Austrobaileyaceae, Davidsoniaceae, Doryanthaceae Idiospermaceae, Platyzomataceae, Tetracarpaeaceae, Cephalalotaceae, Emblingiaceae, Eremosynaceae, Stylobasiaceae.

ANTARCTIC REALM :
This realm is not so rich in bio diversity but nevertheless it supports twelve endemic families in the following Bio regions

1. Fernandezian Bio region
2. Chile - Patagonian Bio region
3. Sub Antarctic Island Bio region
4. Newzeylandic Bio region

The endemic families are Lactoridaceae, Thyrosopteridaceae, Aextoxicaceae, Francoaceae, Gomortegaceae, Halophytiaceae, Malesherbiaceae, Vivianiaceae, Tribelaceae, Lyallia, Pringlea.

Regards
JAYAKRISHNA

Realms of the world

Dear friends,

      Upsc now a days is more inclined towards the Bio Geography, more questions are from this unit also from the Environmental segment so a little bit caution in these segments yield good results.  In the last two Civil Mains examination there are questions pertaining to the REALMS.  Here in this article please find the basic information about the Realms of the World.

Def:  "A Realm is a large spacial region where ecosystems share a similar Biota"  

There are Eight bio geographic realms all over the world, 

1. Nearctic Realm
2. Palaearctic Realm
3. Afrotropical Realm
4. Indomalayan Realm
5. Oceania Realm
6. Australian Realm
7. Antarctic Realm
8. Neotropical Realm

Nearctic and paleartic realms :  These realms together called as Holarctic Realm, it includes most of the Northern hemisphere, the Nearctic realm includes North America & Mexico where as Palearctic realm includes  Europe, Asia except South East Asia.  

     The Fauna of the Nearctic and Palarctic are really quite similar, with such animals as Wood Warblers, Deer, Bison, Wolves. 

Afrotropical Realm : This realm is otherwise called as Ethiopian Realm the northernmost Africa is not included in this realm as the northernmost Africa is more similar to that of Europe. This realms fauna is rich with Antelopes, Giraffes, Elephants, Rhinoceros, Gorillas, Dogs and Cats.  

 Indomalayan Realm : This realm is otherwise called as Oriental Realm it includes India, Southeast Asia and Indonesia, this realm is very rich in Bio diversity with trees shrews, Orangutans and Gibbon.  Recently a number of new species were discovered in this realm especially in the areas like Borneo.

Australian Realm : Australia and nearby islands, with a preponderance of Marsupials, Large flightless birds and parrots, as well as an Kangaroos, Kiwis.  This realm is sometimes called as Austalasian Realm.

Neotropical Realm : This realm includes South and Central America also the areas like Caribbean islands with Sloths, Armadillos, Anteaters, Tapirs, Toucans and Humming birds.

These are the realms pertaining to Fauna let us see in the next posting about the Realms of the World pertaining to Flora.

Thankyou.

JAYAKRISHNA.