A Comprehensive Inventory of Alien Plants in the Protected Forest Areas of Tripura and their Ecological Consequences

Abstract

The present paper provides a comprehensive inventory of 186 alien plant species of Tripura, their invasion status on natural forested areas. Asteraceae is the most dominant family with 31 species followed by 56.98 % of the alien species reported from PAs of Tripura were of American origin. Life form analysis revealed the presence of 56.98% herbs, 16.12 % trees and 9.67 % shrubs. 106 species have been used in traditional medicines, 66 species were of potential ornamental value, 14 species were edibles, 12 species used as timber and 15 species used as green manure. Mikania micrantha, Ageratum conyzoides, Parthenium hysterophorus, Lantana camara, Chromolaena odorata, Ageratum houstonianum are the most invaded species while Ageratum houstonianum, Saccharum spontaneum, Hyptis suaveolens, Imperata cylindrica, Hypoestis phyllostachya are the five neo-invasives for the state