Invasion of Alien Plants in Vadoda Range Forest of Muktainagar, District Jalgaon

Geeta P. Patil1 Chetankumar T. Sharma2, Sandeep. T. Barde3 1, 3 Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, Arts, Commerce and Science College, Bodwad. Dist. Jalgaon. 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, Arts, Commerce and Science College, Bodwad. Dist. Jalgaon.

Abstract According to present exploration in Forest area of Muktainagar, about 68 alien angiospermic plant species were identified which belonging to 30 different families and 65 genera. Nativity, life form, and habit were also recorded. About 23% of the invasive alien species contributes from Africa and 10% from Tropical America. About 97% alien species are Dicot and only 3% are Monocot. Family Asteraceae and Poaceae contributed more species (08 species each), followed by Papilionaceae .Herbs are dominant (41 species) than Trees (22 species), followed by shrubs and climber. Keywords: Vadoda range forest, alien species, angiospermic plant. Introduction: Alien species are that which are not native to a specific area or location and comes from different localities. Alien species are those species which get moved to new habitats apart from its natural habitats.1When alien species establishes itself in a new area or region in such a way that it affects and occupy Indigenous flora it becomes Invasive. The international union for conservation of nature and natural resource (IUCN) define” alien invasive species “as an alien species which becomes established in natural and semi natural ecosystems or habitat as agent of change & threatens native biological diversity. Invasion threats the existing biodiversity and leads to extinction of native species. There are many ways and mechanisms by which these alien species from different localities have been able to introduce from their native places to the other areas.

Vadoda range forest is the eastern part of the khandesh region of Maharashtra state which is lying between 200 and 210 North latitude and 74055’ and 760 28’ east longitude.Forest area is located in Muktainagar tahsil of Jalgaon district. Material and Method: Intensive survey was done in different bits of Vadoda range forest of Muktainagar from each locality during the August 2017 to February 2019. In each season surveys were done in different habitats of whole Forest area. Collection was made from three major bits of Vadoda range forest area viz. Charthana, Jondankheda and Dolarkheda. Collection of invasive alien species was done from each region and identified with the help of experts and from the available Floras2-5 These plants were processed and deposited in the form of Herbarium. Botanical name, family, habit, nativity and uses were noted with the help of available literature6-8

Results and Discussion: Survey of forest region shows that about 10 different geographical regions contribute in the introduction of Alien species. These are Tropical America, Central America, North America, South America, Tropical Africa, Australia, Shrilanka, West Indies, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia. Tropical Africa contributes maximum 21 invasive alien plant species and Tropical America contributes 09 species. About 07 species introduced from Central America and Australia each. 06 species from South America, 5 species from North America.3 species introduced from China and Shrilanka, 1 species from West Indies, Mexico, East Indies and Saudi Arabia9. (Table-1)

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About 68 alien pants species were reported from Vadoda range forest oh Muktainagar from 30 families and 65 genera. Most of the plants are medicinally important. Dicotyledons contributes maximum families than Monocotyledons.Cassia uniflora is the dominating species and occupy most of the forest area.It is present along road side and in protected areas of forest. Family Poaceae is widely distributed with 7 genera followed by Asteraceae. Introduction of Alien species affects the Biodiversity of native plants. It is one of the major reason of depleting biodiversity.

Table: Alien Species From Vadoda Range Forest Of Muktainagar

Sr.No. Botanical Name Family Habit Nativity 1 Dactytoctenium sindicum Poaceae Herb Africa 2 Indigofera cordifolia Papilionaceae Herb Africa, 3 Evolvulus alsiniodes Convolvulaceae Herb Tropical America 4 Polygala eryoptera Polygalaceae Herb North America 5 Tridax procumbens Asteraceae Herb Central America 6 Amaranthus cristatus Amaranthaceae Herb Central America 7 Panicum Poaceae Herb North America 8 Phyllanthus maderaspatensis Euphorbiaceae Herb Tropical Africa 9 Biophytum sensitivum Oxalidaceae Herb Tropical Africa 10 Sida acuta Malvaceae Undershrub Central America 11 Triumfetta pentandrus Malvaceae Herb Tropical America 12 Xanthium stromarium Asteraceae Herb North America 13 Jatropha curcus Euphorbiaceae Herb Tropical America 14 Boerhavia diffusa (punarnava) Nyctaginaceae Herb Tropical Africa 15 Sporobolus indicus Poaceae Herb Tropical America 16 Dichanthium aristatum Poaceae Herb Africa 17 Cassia tora Caesalpiniaceae Undershrub South America 18 Acanthospermum hispidum Asteraceae Herb Central America 19 Phyla nodiflora Verbenaceae Herb South America 20 Aerva lanata Amaranthaceae Herb Africa 21 Cassine glauca Celastraceae Tree Shrilanka 22 Maytenus emarginatus Celastraceae Tree East Indies 23 Diospyros exaltala Ebenaceae Tree/Shrub Tropical America 24 Hyptis snaveolens Lamiaceae Herb South America 25 Heteropogon contortus Poaceae Herb S.Africa, 26 Aristida funiculata Poaceae Herb North America 27 Cassia uniflora Caesalpiniaceae Herb Mexico 28 Acacia chundra Mimosaceae Tree Africa 29 Capparis sepiaria Capparaceae Shrub Australia 30 Capparis decidua Capparaceae Shrub Australia 31 Hyptis suaveolen Lamiaceae Herb Tropical Mexico JETIRAO06029 Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) www.jetir.org 186

32 Anogeissus catifolis Combretaceae Tree Tropical Africa 33 Vitex nigundo Lamiaceae Tree S.Africa, 34 Nyctanthus arbotritis Oleaceae Tree S.Asia 35 Hibiscus trilobutus Malvaceae Shrub Eastern Asia 36 Sida acuta Malvaceae Herb Central America 37 Cassia tora Caesalpiniaceae Herb Central America 38 Trichodesma zeylanica Boraginaceae Herb Africa, 39 Balanites aegyptica Zygophylaceae Tree Africa 40 Vertilago denticulata Rhamnaceae Climbing Australia Shrub 41 Capparis decidua (govinda fal) Capparaceae Herb Saudi Arabia Waghati 42 Lantana camera Verbenaceae Shrub Tropical America 43 Acacia polysi Mimosaceae Shrub Australia 44 Blumea repen Asteraceae Herb Tropical America 45 Rhypensia minima South America 46 Celosia argentina Amaranthaceae Herb Tropical Africa 47 Acacia hirtica Mimosaceae Shrub Australia 48 Sporobelus indicus Poaceae Herb Tropical Africa 49 Alternanthera Amaranthaceae Herb South America 50 Barleria gypsona Acanthaceae Shrub South Africa 51 Tinospora cordifolia Menispermiaceae Climbing Shrilanka shrub 52 Moringa oleifera Moringaceae Tree Africa, 53 Albezia lebbeck Papilionaceae Tree Australia 54 Ipomea obscura Convolvulaceae Climber Tropical Africa 55 Mimosa hamata Mimosaceae Shrub China 56 Limonia acidissima Rutaceae Tree Shri lanka 57 Acacia chundra Mimosaceae Tree Africa 58 Ammania baccifera Lythraceae Herb Africa 59 Diospyros Ebenaceae Shrub China 60 Stemodia vibcessa Schrophulariaceae Herb Tropical America 61 Lannea coromandelica Anacardiaceae Tree South Africa 62 Tamarandus indica Caesalpiniaceae Tree Tropical Africa 63 Blumea Asteraceae Herb Tropical America 64 Rhynchosia Papilionaceae Herb china 65 Vernonia Asteraceae Herb Africa 66 Sida chordate Malvacae Undershrub Central America 67 Xanthium Asteraceae Herb North America 68 Ottelia alismoides Monocot Hydrocharitaceae Herb Australia found in water from last year (rare)

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Conclusion: 1. Alien species becomes invasive and affects native flora and habitat and also affects biodiversity. Hence it needs to increase awareness at all levels to protect and conserv the forest areas. 2. Precaution is to be taken by the forest department for prevention of alien species to introduce into forest area.

Acknowledgement:- The authors are highly grateful to the North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon and Principal of Institution to carry out the present investigation.

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