Communications in Plant Sciences (July-December 2015), Volume 5, Issues 3-4, Pages 59-65 Commun. Plant Sci. (ISSN 2237-4027) www.complantsci.wordpress.com Manuscript received on January 02, 2015, and published on August 26, 2015 Checklist of invasive alien species in CSIR-NBRI Botanic Garden, Lucknow, India Shilpi Singh, Jibankumar S. Khuraijam, and Rup K. Roy Botanic Garden, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow – 226 001. ABSTRACT The invasive alien species of CSIR-NBRI Botanic Garden are enumerated and their impact on the surrounding ecosystem are discussed. This study deals with the information on habit, nativity and family of plant species occurring in the area of study. A total of 103 invasive alien species under 86 genera and 36 families were recorded. Among these, the eudicotyledons represent 85 species, 69 genera and 32 families; monocotyledons represent 18 species, 17 genera and 4 families. In terms of nativity, species from Tropical America are the most dominant group with 34 species. In addition, based on life forms, herbs are dominant (88 species), followed by shrubs (8 species), climbers (4 species) and trees (3 species). Keywords: Invasive alien species, Botanic Garden, NBRI, Lucknow. ______________________________ *Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected] 60 Singh et al. 2015. Checklist of invasive alien species in CSIR-NBRI Botanic Garden, Lucknow, India. INTRODUCTION factors which promoting the success of an invasion species (Newsome & Noble 1986, Rejmanek 1995) Over many centuries, India witness introduction of and also the invisibility of invaded communities and its many alien plant species. Silk route traders introduced characters (Rejmanek 1989). These invasive species several exotic plant species in India from Eurasian of plants alter indigenous community composition, countries, Mediterranean region, and African countries. deplete species diversity, affect ecosystem process Tamarindus indica (tamarind), originally from Africa, is and thus cause huge economic and ecological believed to have been first introduced into India by imbalance (Srivastava et al. 2014). Ethiopian traders (Shah 2014). During British rule and In the present study, invasive alien species in the European occupation, there was influx of many alien CSIR-Botanic Garden is documented for the first plant species from South America, Africa, Middle East, time and information on their nativity and families are and Southeast Asian countries (Islam 1991). Some of given. the alien tree species, such as Tectona grandis, Eucalyptus sp., several species of Albizia were MATERIAL AND METHODS introduced for their timber potential or for watershed protection. Fruit trees such as Litchi chinensis, Ananas Surveys were made in the NBRI, Botanic Garden comosus, Cocos nucifera, and vegetables such as during the years late 2013-early 2015, covering all Cucurbita spp., Raphanus sativus, Solanum seasons. Plant specimens were collected, preserved tuberosum, Daucus carota etc. were also introduced in and mounted as per the known herborizing practices the country along with pulses and oil yielding plants (Jain & Rao 1977). The specimens were identified (Das 1982). Likewise, Eupatorium odoratum, using regional floras and various revisionary and E. adenophorum, Lantana camara, and Eichhornia monographic works and later got authenticated by crassipes were first introduced as ornamental plants carefully matching with the specimens at LWG and they are now well established and dominant in herbarium of NBRI, Lucknow. Nomenclature of these farmland, forest, wetland and wasteland. Many of taxa was confirmed from Bennet (1986) and these species were naturalized and some have Wielgorskaya (1995). Specimens prepared from the become invasive species over a period of time. study area are deposited at the LWG herbarium of the Invasive alien species are non native species that NBRI. The field studies were conducted to record the introduced intentionally or unintentionally in the maximum number of alien species in CSIR-NBRI, country, which spread rapidly, naturalized in their new Botanic Garden. environment and cause harm to other native species or The study area was the CSIR-NBRI Botanic entire ecosystem. These species comes under a Garden, the third largest and one of the oldest botanic category of biological pollution and harmful species for garden in India. The garden is spread over an area of human also (Reddy 2008). Convention for Biological 25 hectares, along the southern bank of river Gomti in Diversity (1992) visualizes ‘biological invasive of alien the central part of Lucknow between 26º 55' N latitude species as the second worst threat for habitat and 80º 59' E longitudes at an altitude of 113 m. It has destruction’. Alien species are non-native or exotic a sub-tropical climate with hot and dry climate in organisms that occur outside their natural adapted summer, warm and humid monsoon, cold climate in ranges and dispersal potential (McGreoch 2010). winter and rainy season start from last June or Invasive plant species are introduced plant species beginning of July. Average rainfall 953 mm and relative that can also called exotic species as they create a humidity ranges from 65% to 90%. The maximum most significant threat to our floristic land, crops and temperature during summer, winter and rainy season other plant species and also fauna. Introduction of this are 40 oC, 23 oC, and 32 oC and minimum invasive species is from one place to another through temperatures are 20 oC, 4 oC, and 18 oC respectively. transportation of crops, through air, by road, and water etc. plays an important role in the movement of the RESULTS AND DISCUSSION species (Singh and Misri 1974). For example, Parthenium hysterophorus was introduced into India A total of 103 invasive alien species belonging to from USA through export of wheat. Human also 86 genera in 36 families were recorded through transport these plants species from one part of the qualitative floristic survey in the CSIR-NBRI Botanic world to other part over thousands of years, sometimes Garden during 2012-2015, where the main families are for social or personal gain and sometimes accidentally in the Figure 1 and the main species are in the (Reddy & Bagyanarayana 2007). Figure 2. Eudicotyledonous plants are represented The ecological approach of these invasion plant 85 species, under 69 genera and 32 families while species mainly based on biological and ecological there were 18 monocotyledonous alien species Communications in Plant Sciences (ISSN 2237-4027) Commun. Plant Sci. 5(3-4): 59-65 (Jul-Dec 2015) Singh et al. 2015. Checklist of invasive alien species in CSIR-NBRI Botanic Garden, Lucknow, India. 61 belonging to 17 genera and 4 families. Poaceae was Solanaceae (5), Malvaceae, Oxalidaceae and the most dominant family with 14 species followed by Tiliaceae (4 each). The families Acanthaceae, Asteraceae (12), Fabaceae (10), Euphorbiaceae (7), Amaranthaceae, Convolvulaceae and Portulacaceae Figure 1. A. Anagallis arvensis, B. Ruellia humilis, C. Oxalis corymbosa, D. Phalaris minor, E. Stellaria media, F. Ageratum conzyoides, G. Sida acuta, H. Desmodium triflorum, I. Gnaphalium pensylvanicum, J. Cissampelos pareira, K. Melilotus officinalis, and L. Polygonum plebeium. Communications in Plant Sciences (ISSN 2237-4027) Commun. Plant Sci. 5(3-4): 59-65 (Jul-Dec 2015) 62 Singh et al. 2015. Checklist of invasive alien species in CSIR-NBRI Botanic Garden, Lucknow, India. Figure 2. Dominant families of invasive alien species. were represented by 3 species each while natural areas and urban ecosystem (Surendra et al. Asclepiadaceae, Brassicaceae, Carophyllaceae, 2013). Many alien species support our farming and Papaveraceae, Polygonaceae and Urticaceae by forestry systems in a big way (Sekar 2012). However, 2 each respectively. Remaining 18 families were some of the alien species become invasive when they represented single species in study area (Table 1). are introduced deliberately or unintentionally outside Among 88 genera Oxalis with 4 species dominated the their natural habitats into new areas where they study area followed by Euphorbia and Portulaca express the capability to establish, invade and out- (3 species each) (Table 1). Among four life forms, compete native species (Raghubanshi et al. 2005). herbs dominated the flora with 88 species followed by shrubs (8 species), climbers (4) and trees (3) (Figure 3). Out of the 103 species, 34 species were from Tropical America, 14 from South America, 11 from Europe, 8 from Mediterranean region, 5 from Africa, 4 each from Tropical Africa and North America, 3 from Mexico, 2 from America, Mediterranean and Africa, and one each from Africa, North and South America, Brazil and Argentina, Mexico, Central America, Central Asia, East Asia, Eastern United states, Europe and western Asia, Florida, Japan, North Africa, North, Figure 3. Growth habits of invasive alien species. South America and tropical Africa and West Indies and Zimbabwe invaded into Botanic Garden, Lucknow. CONCLUSION The global extent and rapid increase in invasive species is homogenizing the world’s flora and fauna Controlling invasive alien species herbs, shrubs, and (Mooney & Hobbs 2000). These alien species was trees (weeds) is an important issue in agricultural considered as a form of biological pollution and farms, gardens as they reduce the productivity of crops significant component on global change and one of the and dominate over the desirable plant species. major causes