TAXONOMY AND ECOLOGY OF TWO SYMPATRIC SPECIES OF LITSEA (L. BOURDILLONII GAMBLE AND L. FLORIBUNDA (BLUME) GAMBLE), LAURACEAE ENDEMIC TO WESTERN GHATS

The members of Lauraceae, important components of the tropical forests has been considered as taxonomically difficult because of their similarity among closely related taxa, variations within taxa and smaller inconspicuous flowers. Two sympatric species of the genera Litsea, Litsea floribunda (Blume) Gamble, endemic to the Western Ghats and Litsea bourdillonii Gamble, endemic to the Southern Western Ghats were studied for their morphology, taxonomy, distribution and ecological niche. The species showed high similarity in the morphological features except few features of the inflorescence, fruiting pedicels and veins. Both the species share similar niche in the 700-1200m MSL wetevergreen forests in the Western Ghats.