The western ghats called the Sayhadris in Karnataka, extend for a length of 3701 kms. The widest belt of forests along the western ghats is in  Karnataka state. The high rainfall accounts for this because the elevation of the mountain range is lower here. The coastal areas on the other hand, provide the tropical backdrop.
The tropical location of Karnataka is responsible for its warm humid climate and laterite and lateritic Clayey-loamy soil. The mean temperature even in the coldest month is over 20 degrees centigrade. Average rainfall is over 500mm along the western ghats and a little less elsewhere. The length of the dry season averages from 5 to 6 months. For all these reasons, the dominant vegetation is of the moist decidous type.

Karnataka is endowed with over 1512 documented species of plants