The ecoregion is nestled between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats and spans most of central Tamil Nadu and extends into southwest Karnataka. This broad ecoregion extends as clustered forest tracts on hill ranges surrounded by agrarian land. The landscape is shaped by the five rain-deficit months each year. Annual precipitation ranges from as low as 500 mm in some years to as much as 2000 mm in other extremes, with an average between 900 –1300 mm. The forest type is dominated by a deciduous tree canopy (at about 20 m height) with variable and geography-specific understoreys of lianas, shrubs, and some evergreen trees. The understorey significantly includes grasses, besides shrubs and annual herbs.