URBAN TREE CANOPY ANALYSISNITESH JOSHI* AND AMBIKA JOSHIAbstract Canopy variations of the trees lining the roads, at different parts of Mumbai city were observed and an attempt is made to relate the different canopy shapes with urban activity in the immediate vicinity. A tree survey was carried out along five classes of roads , Main Roads, Secondary Roads, Tertiary Roads, Western Express Highway and Eastern Express Highway in the city. The five most common trees encountered were Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC), Samanea saman (Jacq), Delonix regia (Hook), Thespesia populnea (L.), and Erythrina indica Lam. Canopy shapes of individual trees were recorded for comparison with a standard set. The canopy shapes showed variations within the species and in many instances deviated away form the normal canopy shape. More than 60% of trees showed deviation from normal canopy shapes. Flattening of canopy in Samanea saman (Jacq), Peltophorum inerme (DC) and Erythrina indica Lam was very frequent. Order of sensitivities of the five species in terms of canopy shapes in the city, is Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC), Delonix regia (Hook), Erythrina indica Lam, Thespesia populnea (L.), and Samanea saman (Jacq).
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