Stress Physiology of Lithophytic Flora in a Semi-Arid Granitic Inselberg Ecosystem: A Case Study of Bhongir Hill, Telangana, India

Lithophytic plants inhabiting granitic inselbergs are exposed to severe environmental stresses, including prolonged water scarcity, high solar irradiance, elevated surface temperatures, nutrient deficiency, and large diurnal temperature fluctuations. The present study focuses on the stress physiology and adaptive responses of lithophytic flora occurring in the semi-arid granitic inselberg ecosystem of Bhongir Hill, Telangana, India. Field investigations were carried out across distinct microhabitats, including exposed rock surfaces, rock crevices, seasonal seepage zones, and shallow soil pockets, which differ considerably in moisture availability and substrate conditions. Representative lithophytic species were assessed for key physiological and biochemical parameters, including relative water content, chlorophyll concentration, proline accumulation, membrane stability, and drought-tolerance characteristics. The observed responses revealed several adaptive mechanisms enabling lithophytes to persist under harsh semi-arid conditions. Increased proline accumulation, effective maintenance of tissue water status, reduced transpiration surfaces, and efficient nutrient-use and acquisition strategies were prominent among the studied species. These physiological adaptations contribute to enhanced tolerance to dehydration, heat stress, and nutrient limitation and facilitate the persistence of specialized plant communities on rocky substrates. The study demonstrates the ecological importance of stress-adapted lithophytic flora in sustaining plant diversity and ecosystem functioning within granitic inselbergs. Bhongir Hill represents a valuable natural system for investigating plant responses to multiple environmental stresses and provides important insights into drought adaptation, ecological resilience, and climate-change tolerance in rocky landscapes. Conservation of these fragile microhabitats is therefore essential for maintaining their unique botanical diversity.

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