The
State of Tamil Nadu has a rich diversity of
alien species. British have introduced
several species in Chennai, Nilgiris and
Palani Hills. The Madras Presidency
has been administered from the present
Chennai and a number of conservators and
other officials were actively engaged in
cataloging plants as well as in introducing
plants may it be species of commercial
interest or botanical curiosity. Total
number of alien species in Tamil Nadu as per
the present data is 1274. A majority
of alien species exist only under
cultivation.
Among the alien species 998 plants occur
under cultivation. Only 276 taxa have
either naturalized or turned invasive.
The naturalized species in this list, though
not invasive currently, have the potential
to turn invasive. It is essential to
monitor the spread of these species.
Past experience of eradicating invasive
species has clearly indicated that the
complete eradication is difficult but
keeping the spread of these species under
control is very much possible.
