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 National Park Ranthambore has a dense forest cover, with large areas of grassland. Water bodies such as lakes, streams and watering holes provide the wildlife of Ranthambore with sources of water, where they congregate to quench their thirst. During the summer, the lakes begin to dry up, and the dry deciduous forest turns brown as the leaves shrivel and dry.
For most of the year though, National Park Ranthambore is covered with thick vegetation. The plants and trees are adapted to the dry semi-desert weather and burst into greenery after the monsoon rains. One of the most commonly seen plants in National Park Ranthambore is the Dhok tree (Anogeissus pendula). The Dhok tree is the primary food source of the deer and other herbivorous animals of Ranthambore National Park. This hardy plant remains green even in the driest summer.
Some of the other vegetation found in National Park Ranthambore includes Mango (Mangifera indica), Ber (Zizyphus mauritania), Jamun (Syzygium cumini) and Tamarind (Tamarindicus indica). Monkeys, and birds frequent these trees during the day, and bats come at night, attracted by the ripening fruit on their branches. The vegetation of Ranthambore has an important role to play in the ecosystem of National Park Ranthambore. The birds, bats and monkeys in turn, help in dispersing the seeds of the plants by carrying away the fruits or ingesting them and depositing the seeds elsewhere.
The Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) is considered a medicinal plant in India. Its pale yellow-green buds are a pretty sight. But its freshness pales in comparison with the flamboyance of the Flame of the Forest (Butea frondosa or Butea monosperma), which has large reddish-orange flowers, shaped like a parrot's beak and with a velvety feel. The Flame of the Forest, truly sets the forest ablaze with color when it bursts into bloom.
Other trees seen in National Park Ranthambore include the Banyan (Ficus bengalensis), one of the largest trees in India can be seen at the hunting lodge or Jogi Mahal in the park. With extending aerial roots and large green leaves, a banyan is an impressive tree and has religious significance in India. Another tree with religious associations is the Peepal (Ficus Religiosa), which is known for its tapering green leaves that flutter even in the absence of a breeze.
Some of the other trees and vegetation you can see on tours to National Park Ranthambore are Kadam (Authocephalus cadamba), Khair (Accacia catechu), Babul (Accasia nilotica), Kakera (Flacourtia indica), Ronj (Acacia leucophloea) and Mohua (Madhuca indica)
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