Catalogue of invasive flora of India

Abstract

The present study deals with comprehensive list of invasive alien species in the flora of India with background information
on family, habit and nativity. Total 173 invasive alien species belonging to 117 genera under 44 families were documented.
It was prepared based on history, species origin, species behavior and field observations. Literature and websites
were consulted extensively for relevant publications. Almost 80% of the species were introduced from neotropics. Tropical
America (74%) and Tropical Africa (11%) contribute maximum proportion to the invasive alien flora of India. Habit
wise analysis shows herbaceous species share 151 species, followed by shrubs (14), climbers (5) and trees (3). A better
planning is needed for early detection and reporting of infestations of spread of new and naturalized weeds to monitor and
control. [Life Science Journal. 2008; 5(2): 84 – 89] (ISSN: 1097 – 8135).

Full text

Reddy, Catalogue of invasive alien ora of India
Catalogue of invasive alien ora of India
C. Sudhakar Reddy*
Forestry and Ecology Division, National Remote Sensing Agency, Balanagar, Hyderabad 500037, India
Received March 6, 2008
Abstract
The present study deals with comprehensive list of invasive alien species in the ora of India with background informa-
tion on family, habit and nativity. Total 173 invasive alien species belonging to 117 genera under 44 families were docu-
mented. It was prepared based on history, species origin, species behavior and eld observations. Literature and websites
were consulted extensively for relevant publications. Almost 80% of the species were introduced from neotropics. Tropi-
cal America (74%) and Tropical Africa (11%) contribute maximum proportion to the invasive alien ora of India. Habit
wise analysis shows herbaceous species share 151 species, followed by shrubs (14), climbers (5) and trees (3). A better
planning is needed for early detection and reporting of infestations of spread of new and naturalized weeds to monitor and
control. [Life Science Journal. 2008; 5(2): 84 – 89] (ISSN: 1097 – 8135).
Keywords: invasion; alien; nativity; list; India
1 Introduction
Convention for Biological Diversity (1992) visualize
“biological invasion of alien species as the second worst
threat after habitat destruction”. Biological invasions may
be considered as a form of biological pollution and sig-
nicant component on human-caused global environmen-
tal change and one of the major causes of species extinc-
tion. The opportunity of accidental introductions will may
become more with rapidly increasing global commerce
(Mooney and Drake, 1987; Drake et al, 1989).
Despite the recent recognition of the impacts caused by
invasive plants worldwide (Mooney and Hobbs, 2000),
there are still many regions in the world where basic
information on naturalized plant taxa and plant inva-
sions is only anecdotal or completely lacking, e.g. Asia
and neighboring regions (Corlett, 1988; Enmoto, 1999;
Meyer, 2000). Establishment of a database of naturalized
species is the rst step in the development of invasion bi-
ology, and will also serve as a stepping-stone for further
detailed studies on the biology and impact of individual
species (Wu et al, 2004).
Naturalization has been recognized as the rst phase of
biological invasions. A naturalized species is dened as
an introduced (non-native, exotic, alien) species, that can
consistently reproduce and sustain populations over many
generations without (or despite) direct intervention by hu-
mans (Richardson et al, 2000; Pyšek et al, 2002). After
successful local establishment, some naturalized species
disperse and produce viable offspring in areas distant
from the sites of introduction. Such naturalized species
are called invasive (Richardson et al, 2000). Many inva-
sive plant species cause economic and/or environmental
damage, and referred to as alien pests or weeds (Richard-
son et al, 2000).
2 Materials and Methods
India has a characteristic geographic location at the
junction of the three major biogeographic realms, namely
the Indo-Malayan, the Eurasian and the Afro-tropical (6º
45' to 37º 6' latitude and 68º 7' to 97º 25' E longitude)
with a land frontier of about 15,200 km and a coastline
of 7,516 km. It is the seventh largest country in the world
and the second largest in Asia. It is considered to be one
of the twelve centers of origin and diversity of several
plant species in the world. India is an important center of
*Corresponding author. Tel: 040-23884219; Email: csreddy_nrsa@rediff-
mail.com; drsudhakarreddy@gmail.com
∙ 84 ∙

Reddy, Catalogue of invasive alien ora of India
agri-biodiversity having contributed 167 species to the
world agriculture and homeland for 320 species of wild
relatives of crops. India accounts for 8 % of the global
biodiversity existing in only 2.4% land area of the world.
The number of angiospermous species of India are 17000
(Hajra & Mudgal, 1997).
The ora of India shows close afnity with the ora
of Indo-Malayan and Indo-Chinese region. At present
5400 (32%) species are endemic to India. 35% of Indian
flora has south-east Asian and Malayan, 8% temperate,
1% steppe, 2% African, and 5% Mediterranean-Iranian
elements (Nayar, 1977). Still there is information gap on
exact number of naturalized alien/exotic species in India.
The number of such species may be around 2000.
In India, comprehensive studies on invasive species
and plant invasions are still missing. In view of this, the
present study attempted to focus on the invasive alien
species in the flora of India. This first list of invasive
exotic species in India will serve as a base for future re-
search on biological invasions in this country.
The present study was conducted during 2003 – 2007,
to compile a comprehensive list of invasive alien plant
species. The challenge is recognizing which introduced
species incur ecological and economic costs and which
simply becomes part of India’s tropical/subtropical/tem-
perate landscape and cause no real harm. It is very dif-
cult to choose exotic species, from all over the country,
that really are invasive or worse than any others.
After an extensive review of literature on global in-
vasive species (Mooney and Drake, 1987; Heywood,
1989; Cox, 1999; Cox, 2004; Cracraft and Francesca,
1999; D'Antonio and Vitousek, 1992; Drake et al, 1989;
Randall et al, 1997; Huxel, 1999; Jenkins, 1999; Londs-
dale, 1999; Mooney, 1999; Elton, 2000; Mooney and
Hobbs, 2000; Almeilla and Freitas, 2001; Cowie, 2001;
McNeely et al, 2001) and of India and their spread based
on history, species origin, species behavior and eld ob-
servations, a list of 173 species of invasive aliens was
prepared. The websites were also examined extensively
for background information.
The nativity of the species is provided based on Mat-
thew, 1969; Maheswari and Paul, 1975; Nayar, 1977;
Sharma, 1984; Hajra and Das, 1982; Saxena, 1991; Pan-
dey and Parmar, 1994; Reddy et al, 2000; Reddy & Raju,
2002; Reddy & Reddy, 2004; Murthy et al, 2007; Negi
and Hajra, 2007.
3 Results
The study brought to light catalogue of invasive alien
species in India. Total 173 species in 117 genera and un-
der 44 families were documented as invasive alien plant
species, representing 1% of the Indian ora. The 173 in-
vasive alien species were shown along with family name,
habit and nativity in Table 1.
Tropical America (with 128 species) region contribute
the greatest to the number (74%) followed by tropical Af-
rica (11%). The other regions, which contribute minority,
are Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, East Indies, Europe,
Madagascar, Mascarene Islands, Mediterranean, Mexico,
Peru, Temperate South America, Trop. West Asia, West
Indies and Western Europe.
Habit wise analysis shows that herbs with 151 species
(87.3%) predominate followed by shrubs (14), climbers
(5) and trees (3). Of the 44 families, Asteraceae is the
most dominant family with 33 species followed by Pa-
pilionaceae (15), Convolvulaceae (10), Caesalpiniaceae
(9), Solanaceae (9), Amaranthaceae (8), Poaceae (8), Eu-
phorbiaceae (7), Mimosacceae (6) and Tiliaceae (5). The
top ten families contribute 110 species with proportion
of 63.6%. The 17 families represent one species each,
i.e. Apocynaceae, Araceae, Arecaceae, Balsaminaceae,
Cactaceae, Liliaceae, Melastomataceae, Nyctaginaceae,
Oxalidaceae, Papaveraceae, Passifloraceae, Piperaceae,
Polygonaceae, Rubiaceae, Salviniaceae, Typhaceae and
Urticaceae.
4 Discussion
While a number of lists of invasive plant species are
in worldwide circulation, criteria used in these listings
often are not documented clearly. Surveys have shown
that more than half of exotic plant species currently
spreading naturally were intentionally introduced, and
that most of the exotic species that endanger India’s na-
tive ecosystems were first introduced for horticultural
purposes. Thus reducing the intentional use of high-risk
exotic plants could reduce the spread and impact of inva-
sive plants in the country.
All these species reported here, were reported as
weeds in other countries or invasive alien plants in most
of the regions. Almost 80% of the invasive alien plant
species were introduced from Neotropics.
The invasive alien species are ready colonizers in
disturbed areas and cause considerable ecological dam-
age to India’s natural areas, speed the disappearance
of threatened and endemic species, reduce the carrying
capacity of pastures, increase the maintenance costs of
croplands, and interfere with our enjoyment of the out-
doors. Of these, some species may have invaded only a
∙ 85 ∙

Life Science Journal, Vol 5, No 2, 2008 http://lsj.zzu.edu.cn
∙ 86 ∙
Sl.
no. Species Family Habit Nativity
1Acacia farnesiana
(L.) Willd.
Mimosacceae Tree Trop. South
America
2Acacia mearnsii De
Wild.
Mimosacceae Tree South east
Australia
3Acanthospermum
hispidum DC.
Asteraceae Herb Brazil
4Aerva javanica
(Burm.f.) Juss.ex
Schult.
Amaranthaceae Herb Trop. America
5Aeschynomene
americana L.
Papilionaceae Herb Trop. America
6Ageratina
adenophora (Spreng.)
King & Robinson
Asteraceae Herb Trop. America
7Ageratum conyzoides
L.
Asteraceae Herb Trop. America
8Ageratum
houstonianum Mill.
Asteraceae Herb Trop. America
9Alternanthera
paronychioides A. St.
Hil
Amaranthaceae Herb Trop. America
10 Alternanthera
philoxeroides (Mart.)
Griseb.
Amaranthaceae Herb Trop. America
11 Alternanthera
pungens Kunth
Amaranthaceae Herb Trop. America
12 Alternanthera tenella
Colla
Amaranthaceae Herb Trop. America
13 Antigonon leptopus
Hook. & Arn.
Polygonaceae Climber Trop. America
14 Argemone mexicana
L.
Papaveraceae Herb Trop. Central &
South America
15 Asclepias curassavica
L.
Asclepiadaceae Herb Trop. America
16 Asphodelus
tenuifolius Cav.
Liliaceae Herb Trop. America
17 Bidens pilosa L. Asteraceae Herb Trop. America
18 Blainvillea acmella
(L.) Philipson
Asteraceae Herb Trop. America
19 Blumea erianthaDC. Asteraceae Herb Trop. America
20 Blumea lacera (Burm.
f.) DC.
Asteraceae Herb Trop. America
21 Blumea obliqua (L.)
Druce
Asteraceae Herb Trop. America
22 Borassus abellifer L. Arecaceae Tree Trop. Africa
23 Calotropis gigantea
(L.) R.Br.
Asclepiadaceae Shrub Trop. Africa
24 Calotropis procera
(Ait.) R. Br.
Asclepiadaceae Shrub Trop. Africa
25 Cardamine hirsuta L. Brassicaceae Herb Trop. America
26 Cardamine
trichocarpa Hochst.
ex A. Rich.
Brassicaceae Herb Trop. America
27 Cassia absus L. Caesalpiniaceae Herb Trop. America
28 Cassia alata L. Caesalpiniaceae Shrub West Indies
29 Cassia hirsuta L. Caesalpiniaceae Herb Trop. America
30 Cassia obtusifolia L. Caesalpiniaceae Herb Trop. America
Sl.
no. Species Family Habit Nativity
31 Cassia occidentalis L. Caesalpiniaceae Herb Trop. South
America
32 Cassia pumila Lam. Caesalpiniaceae Herb Trop. America
33 Cassia rotundifolia
Pers.
Caesalpiniaceae Herb Trop. South
America
34 Cassia tora L. Caesalpiniaceae Herb Trop. South
America
35 Cassia uniora Mill. Caesalpiniaceae Herb Trop. South
America
36 Catharanthus pusillus
(Murray) Don
Apocynaceae Herb Trop. America
37 Celosia argentea L. Amaranthaceae Herb Trop. Africa
38 Chamaesyce hirta
(L.) Millsp.
Euphorbiaceae Herb Trop. America
39 Chamaesyce indica
(Lam.) Croizat
Euphorbiaceae Herb Trop. South
America
40 Chloris barbata Sw. Poaceae Herb Trop. America
41 Chromolaena odorata
(L.) King & Robinson
Asteraceae Herb Trop. America
42 Chrozophora rottleri
(Geis.) Spreng.
Euphorbiaceae Herb Trop. Africa
43 Cleome gynandra L. Cleomaceae Herb Trop. America
44 Cleome monophylla
L.
Cleomaceae Herb Trop. Africa
45 Cleome rutidosperma
DC.
Cleomaceae Herb Trop. America
46 Cleome viscosa L. Cleomaceae Herb Trop. America
47 Clidemia hirta (L.) D.
Don
Melastomataceae Herb Trop. America
48 Conyza bipinnatida
Wall.
Asteraceae Herb Trop. America
49 Corchorus aestuans
L.
Tiliaceae Herb Trop. America
50 Corchorus
fascicularis Lam.
Tiliaceae Herb Trop. America
51 Corchorus tridens L. Tiliaceae Herb Trop. Africa
52 Corchorus
trilocularis L.
Tiliaceae Herb Trop. Africa
53 Crassocephalum
crepidioides (Benth.)
Moore
Asteraceae Herb Trop. America
54 Crotalaria pallida
Dryand
Papilionaceae Herb Trop. America
55 Crotalaria retusa L. Papilionaceae Herb Trop. America
56 Croton
bonplandianum Boil.
Euphorbiaceae Herb Temperate
South America
57 Cryptostegia
grandiora R.Br.
Asclepiadaceae Herb Madagascar
58 Cuscuta chinensis
Lam.
Cuscutaceae Herb Mediterranean
59 Cuscuta reexa Roxb. Cuscutaceae Herb Mediterranean
60 Cyperus difformis L. Cyperaceae Herb Trop. America
61 Cyperus iria L. Cyperaceae Herb Trop. America
62 Cytisus scoparius (L.)
Link
Papilionaceae Herb Europe
63 Datura innoxia Mill. Solanaceae Shrub Trop. America
64 Datura metel L. Solanaceae Shrub Trop. America
Table 1. List of invasive alien plant species in India

Reddy, Catalogue of invasive alien ora of India
Sl.
no. Species Family Habit Nativity
65 Dicoma tomentosa
Cass.
Asteraceae Herb Trop. Africa
66 Digera muricata (L.)
Mart.
Amaranthaceae Herb SW Asia
67 Dinebra retroexa
(Vahl) Panz.
Poaceae Herb Trop. America
68 Echinochloa colona
(L.) Link
Poaceae Herb Trop. South
America
69 Echinochloa crusgalli
(L.) Beauv.
Poaceae Herb Trop. South
America
70 Echinops echinatus
Roxb.
Asteraceae Herb Afghanistan
71 Eclipta prostrata (L.)
Mant.
Asteraceae Herb Trop. America
72 Eichhornia crassipes
(C. Martius) Solms-
Loub.
Pontederiaceae Herb Trop. America
73 Emilia sonchifolia
(L.) DC.
Asteraceae Herb Trop. America
74 Euphorbia
cyathophora Murray
Euphorbiaceae Herb Trop. America
75 Euphorbia
heterophylla L.
Convolvulaceae Herb Trop. America
76 Evolvulus
nummularius (L.) L.
Convolvulaceae Herb Trop. America
77 Flaveria trinervia
(Spreng.) C. Mohr.
Asteraceae Herb Trop. Central
America
78 Fuirena ciliaris (L.)
Roxb.
Cyperaceae Herb Trop. America
79 Galinosoga parviora
Cav.
Asteraceae Herb Trop. America
80 Glossocardia
bosvallea (L.f.) DC.
Asteraceae Herb East Indies
81 Gnaphalium
coarctatum Willd.
Asteraceae Herb Trop. America
82 Gnaphalium
pensylvanicum Willd.
Asteraceae Herb Trop. America
83 Gnaphalium
polycaulon Pers.
Asteraceae Herb Trop. America
84 Gomphrena serrata
L.
Amaranthaceae Herb Trop. America
85 Grangea
maderaspatana (L.)
Poir.
Asteraceae Herb Trop. South
America
86 Hyptis suaveolens
(L.) Poit.
Lamiaceae Herb Trop. America
87 Impatiens balsamina
L.
Balsaminaceae Herb Trop. America
88 Imperata cylindrica
(L.) Raensch.
Poaceae Herb Trop. America
89 Indigofera
astragalina DC.
Papilionaceae Herb Trop. America
90 Indigofera glandulosa
Roxb. ex Willd.
Papilionaceae Herb Trop. America
91 Indigofera linifolia
(L.f.) Retz.
Papilionaceae Herb Trop. South
America
92 Indigofera linnaei Ali Papilionaceae Herb Trop. Africa
93 Indigofera trita L.f. Papilionaceae Shrub Trop. Africa
94 Ipomoea carnea Jacq. Convolvulaceae Shrub Trop. America
95 Ipomoea eriocarpa
R.Br.
Convolvulaceae Herb Trop. Africa
Sl.
no. Species Family Habit Nativity
96 Ipomoea hederifolia
L.
Convolvulaceae Herb Trop. America
97 Ipomoea obscura (L.)
Ker.-Gawl.
Convolvulaceae Herb Trop. Africa
98 Ipomoea pes-tigridis
L.
Convolvulaceae Herb Trop. East
Africa
99 Ipomoea quamoclit L. Convolvulaceae Herb Trop. America
100 Ipomoea staphylina
Roem. & Schult.
Convolvulaceae Herb Trop. Africa
101 Lagascea mollis Cav. Asteraceae Herb Trop. Central
America
102 Lantana camara L. Verbenaceae Herb Trop. America
103 Leonotis nepetiifolia
(L.) R.Br.
Lamiaceae Herb Trop. Africa
104 Leucaena
leucocephala (Lam.)
de Wit
Mimosacceae Herb Trop. America
105 Ludwigia adscendens
(L.) Hara
Onagraceae Herb Trop. America
106 Ludwigia octovalvis
(Jacq.) Raven
Onagraceae Herb Trop. Africa
107 Ludwigia perennis L. Onagraceae Herb Trop. Africa
108 Macroptilium
atropupureum (DC.)
Urban
Papilionaceae Climber Trop. America
109 Macroptilium
lathyroides (L.)
Urban
Papilionaceae Climber Trop. Central
America
110 Malachra capitata
(L.) L.
Malvaceae Herb Trop. America
111 Malvastrum
coromandelianum
(L.) Garcke
Malvaceae Herb Trop. America
112 Martynia annua
(Houstoun in Martyn)
L.
Pedaliaceae Herb Trop. America
113 Mecardonia
procumbens (Mill.)
Small
Scrophulariaceae Herb Trop. North
America
114 Melilotus alba Desv. Papilionaceae Herb Europe
115 Melochia
corchorifolia L.
Sterculiaceae Herb Trop. America
116 Merremia aegyptia
(L.) Urban.
Convolvulaceae Herb Trop. America
117 Mikania micrantha
Kunth
Asteraceae Climber Trop. America
118 Mimosa pigra L. Mimosacceae Shrub Trop. North
America
119 Mimosa pudica L. Mimosacceae Herb Brazil
120 Mirabilis jalapa L. Nyctaginaceae Herb Peru
121 Monochoria vaginalis
(Burm.f.) C. Presl.
Pontederiaceae Herb Trop. America
122 Nicotiana
plumbaginifolia Viv.
Solanaceae Herb Trop. America
123 Ocimum americanum
L.
Lamiaceae Herb Trop. America
124 Opuntia stricta
(Haw.) Haw.
Cactaceae Herb Trop. America
125 Oxalis corniculata L. Oxalidaceae Herb Europe
∙ 87 ∙
Continued

Life Science Journal, Vol 5, No 2, 2008 http://lsj.zzu.edu.cn
Sl.
no. Species Family Habit Nativity
126 Parthenium
hysterophorus L.
Asteraceae Herb Trop. North
America
127 Passiora foetida L. Passioraceae Herb Trop. South
America
128 Pedalium murex L. Pedaliaceae Herb Trop. America
129 Pennisetum
purpureum Schum.
Poaceae Herb Trop. America
130 Peperomia pellucida
(L.) Kunth
Piperaceae Herb Trop. South
America
131 Peristrophe
paniculata (Forssk.)
Brummitt
Acanthaceae Herb Trop. America
132 Phyllanthus tenellus
Roxb.
Euphorbiaceae Herb Mascarene
Islands
133 Physalis angulata L. Solanaceae Herb Trop. America
134 Physalis pruinosa L. Solanaceae Herb Trop. America
135 Pilea microphylla (L.)
Liebm.
Urticaceae Herb Trop. South
America
136 Pistia stratiotes L. Araceae Herb Trop. America
137 Portulaca oleracea L. Portulacaceae Herb Trop. South
America
138 Portulaca quadrida
L.
Portulacaceae Herb Trop. America
139 Prosopis juliora
(Sw.) DC.
Mimosacceae Shrub Mexico
140 Rhynchelytrum repens
(Willd.) C.E. Hubb.
Poaceae Herb Trop. America
141 Rorippa dubia (Pers.)
Hara
Brassicaceae Herb Trop. America
142 Ruellia tuberosa L. Acanthaceae Herb Trop. America
143 Saccharum
spontaneum L.
Poaceae Herb Trop. West
Asia
144 Salvinia molesta D. S.
Mitch.
Salviniaceae Herb Brazil
145 Scoparia dulcis L. Scrophulariaceae Herb Trop. America
146 Sesbania bispinosa
(Jacq.) Wight
Papilionaceae Shrub Trop. America
147 Sida acuta Burm.f. Malvaceae Herb Trop. America
148 Solanum americanum
Mill.
Solanaceae Herb Trop. America
149 Solanum seafor-
thianum Andrews
Solanaceae Climber Brazil
Sl.
no. Species Family Habit Nativity
150 Solanum torvum Sw. Solanaceae Shrub West Indies
151 Solanum viarum
Dunal
Solanaceae Herb Trop. America
152 Sonchus asper Hill Asteraceae Herb Mediterranean
153 Sonchus oleraceus L. Asteraceae Herb Mediterranean
154 Spermacoce hispida
L.
Rubiaceae Herb Trop. America
155 Spilanthes radicans
Jacq.
Asteraceae Herb Trop. South
America
156 Stachytarpheta
jamaicensis (L.) Vahl
Verbenaceae Herb Trop. America
157 Stachytarpheta
urticaefolia
(Salisb.)Sims
Verbenaceae Herb Trop. America
158 Stylosanthes hamata
(L.) Taub.
Papilionaceae Herb Trop. America
159 Synadenium grantii
Hook. f.
Euphorbiaceae Shrub Trop. America
160 Synedrella nodiora
(L.) Gaertn.
Asteraceae Herb West Indies
161 Torenia fournieri
Linden ex E. Fournier
Scrophulariaceae Herb Australia
162 Tribulus lanuginosus
L.
Zygophyllaceae Herb Trop. America
163 Tribulus terrestris L. Zygophyllaceae Herb Trop. America
164 Tridax procumbens L. Asteraceae Herb Trop. Central
America
165 Triumfetta
rhomboidea Jacq.
Tiliaceae Herb Trop. America
166 Turnera subulata J.E.
Smith
Turneraceae Herb Trop. America
167 Turnera ulmifolia L. Turneraceae Herb Trop. America
168 Typha angustata
Bory. & Choub.
Typhaceae Herb Trop. America
169 Ulex europaeus L. Papilionaceae Shrub Western
Europe
170 Urena lobata L. Malvaceae Shrub Trop. Africa
171 Waltheria indica L. Sterculiaceae Herb Trop. America
172 Xanthium strumarium
L.
Asteraceae Herb Trop. America
173 Youngia japonica (L.)
DC.
Asteraceae Herb Trop. South
America
∙ 88 ∙
restricted region, but have a huge probability of expand-
ing, and causing great damage. Other species may al-
ready be globally widespread and causing cumulative but
less visible damage.
Among the 173 species, majority are generalists found
in all kinds of systems like forests, crop lands, waste
lands, plantations, gardens and road sides. The 33 species
are invaders of wetlands, i.e. Aerva javanica, Aeschyn-
omene americana, Alternanthera paronychioides, Alter-
nanthera philoxeroides, Asclepias curassavica, Cassia
alata, Corchorus trilocularis, Cyperus difformis, Cy-
perus iria, Echinochloa colona, Echinochloa crusgalli,
Eclipta prostrata, Eichhornia crassipes, Fuirena ciliaris,
Gnaphalium coarctatum, Gnaphalium pensylvanicum,
Gnaphalium polycaulon, Grangea maderaspatana, Ipo-
moea carnea, Ludwigia adscendens, Ludwigia octoval-
vis, Ludwigia perennis, Mecardonia procumbens, Mono-
choria vaginalis, Pistia stratiotes, Portulaca quadrida,
Rorippa dubia, Saccharum spontaneum, Salvinia mo-
lesta, Sesbania bispinosa, Sonchus asper, Sonchus olera-
ceus and Typha angustata.
The predominance of Asteraceae species in invasive
category shows the high impact of neotropical flora on
Indian region.
Continued

Reddy, Catalogue of invasive alien ora of India
∙ 89 ∙
5 Conclusion
According to the available information, there are about
173 alien species of invasive nature are found in India.
Monitoring of invasion can be done through qualitative
approach like species inventory (seasonally) and quan-
titative approach using phytosociological methods and
mapping using ground-based methods (via map overlays
or GPS), remotely-sensed images (aerial photos, high
resolution multi-spectral digital data).
A better planning is needed for early detection and
reporting of infestations of spread of new and naturalized
weeds by creation of plant detection network in each
State by establishing communication links between tax-
onomists, ecologists and land managers to monitor and
control.
Achnowledgments
I am thankful to Dr. PS Roy, Deputy Director, Dr.
MSR Murthy, Head, Forestry and Ecology Division,
National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad, Prof. VS
Raju, Kakatiya University, Warangal and Prof. G Bag-
yanarayana, Osmania University, Hyderabad for encour-
agement and criticism.
References
Almeilla ID, Freitas H. The exotic and invasive ora of Portugal. Bot
Complutensis 2001: 25: 317 – 27.
Corlett RT. The naturalized flora of Singapore. Journal of
Biogeography 1988: 15: 657 – 63.
Cowie R. Does the public care about species loss? A glimpse into the
public’s thinking. Conservation Biology in Practice 2001: 2(3): 28 –
9.
Cox GW. Alien Species in North America and Hawaii: Impacts on
Natural Ecosystems. Island Press, Washington, D.C. 1999.
Cox GW. Alien Species and Evolution: The Evolutionary Ecology
of Exotic Plants, Animals, Microbes, and Interacting Native Species.
Island Press, Washington, D.C. 2004.
Cracraft J, Francesca T. The Living Planet in Crisis. Columbia
University Press, New York. 1999.
D'Antonio CM, Vitousek PM. Biological invasions by exotic grasses:
the grass/fire cycle and global change. Annual Review of Ecology
and Systematics 1992; 23: 63 – 87.
Drake JA, Mooney HA, di Castri F, Groves R, Kruger F, Rejmanek
M, Williamson M. Biological Invasions: A Global Perspective. John
Wiley and Sons, New York. 1989.
El to n CS. The Eco logy of Inv as ions by Anim al s an d Plant s.
University of Chicago Press, Chicago. 2000.
Enmoto T. Naturalized weeds from foreign countries into Japan.
In: Yano, et al (eds). Biological invasions of ecosystem by pests
and benecial organisms. National Institute of Agro-Environmental
Science, Tsukuba, Japan. 1999; 1 – 14.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Hajra PK, Das BK. Vegetation of Gangtok with special reference to
exotic plants. Indian For 1982; 107: 554 – 66.
Hajra PK, Mudgal V. Plant diversity hotspots in India – An overview.
BSI India 1997.
Heywood V. Patterns, Extents, and Modes of Invasions by Terrestrial
Plants. In: Drake J, et al (eds.), Biological Invasions: A Global
Perspective, Wiley, NY. 1989; 31 – 60.
Huxel GR. Rapid displacement of native species by invasive species:
effects of hybridization. Biological Conservation 1999: 89:143 – 52.
Jenkins PT. Trade and exotic species introductions. In: Sandlund OT,
Schei P. Invasive Species and Biodiversity Management. Kluwer
Academic Publishers, The Netherlands. 1999; 24: 229 – 35.
Londsdale WM. Global patterns of plant invasions and the concept of
invasibility. Ecology 1999; 80: 1522 – 36.
Maheswari JK, Paul SR. The exotic ora of Ranchi. J Bombay Nat
Hist Soc 1975; 72(1): 158 – 88.
Matthew KM. Exotic flora of Kodaikanal and Palni hills. Rec Bot
Surv India 1969; 20(1): 1 – 241.
McNeely JA, Mooney HA, Neville LE, Schei P, Waage JK. A Global
Strategy on Invasive Alien Species. IUCN Gland, Switzerland, and
Cambridge, U.K., in collaboration with the Global Invasive Species
Programme. 2001.
Meyer JY. Preliminary review of the invasive plants in the Pacific
islands. In: Sherley G (ed.). Invasive Species in the Pacific: A
Tech ni cal Revi ew and Dra ft Re gi on al St ra te gy. Sou th Pa ci fi c
Regional Environmental Programme, Samoa. 2000; 85 – 114.
Mooney HA, Drake JA. The ecology of biological invasions.
Environment 1987; 29(5): 12.
Mooney HA. A global strategy for dealing with alien invasive
species. Invasive species and Biodiversity management (ed. Sandlund
OT, Schei PJ, Viken A). Kluwer Academic Publishers, London. 1999;
24.
Mooney HA, Hobbs RJ. Invasive Species in a Changing World.
Island Press, Washington, D.C. 2000.
Murthy EN, Raju VS, Reddy CS. Occurrence of exotic Hyptis
suaveolens. Curr Sci 2007; 93(9): 1203.
Nayar MP. Changing patterns of the Indian Flora. Bull Bot Surv India
1977; 19: 145 – 55.
Negi PS, Hajra PK. Alien ora of Doon valley, Northwest Himalaya.
Curr Sci 2007; 92(7): 968 – 78.
Pandey RP, Parmar PJ. The exotic ora of Rajasthan. J Econ Tax Bot
1994; 18(1): 105 – 21.
Pyšek P, Sádlo J, Mandák B. Catalogue of alien plants of the Czech
Republic. Preslia 2002; 74: 97 – 186.
Randall JM, Marinelli J. Invasive Plants: Weeds of the Global
Garden. Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, New York. 1997.
Reddy CS, Bhanja MR, Raju VS. Cassia uniflora Miller: a new
record for Andhra Pradesh, India. Indian J Forestry 2000; 23(3): 324
– 5.
Reddy CS, Raju VS. Additions to the weed ora of Andhra Pradesh,
India. J Econ Taxon Bot 2002; 26: 195 – 8.
Reddy CS, Reddy KN. Cassia rotundifolia Pers. (Caesalpiniaceae): a
new record for India. J Econ Tax Bot 2004; 28: 73 – 4.
Richardson DM, Bond WJ, Dean WRJ. et al. Invasive alien species
and global change: a South African perspective. In: Mooney HA,
Hobbs RJ (eds). Invasive Species in a Changing World. Washington,
DC: Island. 2000; 303 – 49.
Saxena KG. Biological invasion in the Indian sub-continent: review
of invasion by plants. In: Ecology of Biological Invasion in the
Tropics 1991; 53 – 73.
Sharma BD. Exotic Flora of Allahabad, Botanical Survey of India,
Dehra Dun. 1984.
Wu SH, Hsieh CF, Rejmánek M. Catalogue of the naturalized ora of
Taiwan. Taiwania 2004; 49(1): 16 – 31.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.