Indian subcontinent has a rich heritage of biodiversity because of its variable geo-climatic conditions. Several exotic plant species survived since ancient period and became an integral part of Indian flora. Nay, they now seem to be iconic plants and are being venerated. They are valued by the Indians for their esteem, culture and welfare. Select 20 exotic notable species are studied from the standpoint of their origin, distribution, culture and ancient Sanskrit literature. Diverse information about them is adduced from architecture, art, archaeological sites, etymology (philology), anthropology, ancient Sanskrit and religious scriptures. Some of them were once thought introduced by western rulers in the then India few centuries ago. This belief can be easily negated based on the present investigation. They appeared to have been brought in India during pre-Columbian period. They also appear to be indicators of Indian contacts with various parts of the Old World and interestingly even New World.
Ancient Sanskrit Puranas are literary heritage of India. They are studied from different perspectives but appeared largely neglected from the viewpoint of plant invasion in Indian territory. The present attempt dealt with the alien plant species as encoded in Sanskrit plant names in various verses of Kurma Purana. As many as 24 alien plant species belong to 23 genera of 16 families of angiosperms. They are analysed carefully floristically, habital categories and status regarding cultivation or naturalization. They are also studied for their nativity consulting relevant taxonomic literature. The data indirectly also indicated about utilities and awareness about classification of plants based on habits. Such investigations are warranted for better understanding of the development of natural wealth in past.
The intellectual capacity of mankind for classifying natural objects and even abstract concepts is widely recognized. The rich diversity of the environment is described in sufficient details by the nomenclatural and classification systems even within ancient culture. Sanskrit is thought to be a mother of many other languages and a pristine treasure trove. Presently, it is not a language of any nation and hence remained morbid. Sanskrit literature is replete with references to plants and their utilities in ancient past. This rich Indian heritage still waits revealing its glory and secrets. The present author examined some common names of plants in Sanskrit semantically and taxonomically. The bases of coining names, roots of binomial nomenclature and scientific aspects of plant science in Sanskrit are unearthed and compared with modern phytotaxonomic systems. The merits and limits of developments are comparatively discussed highlighting elements of plant science. Studies on this line will also help earmark economic potential and ethnobotanical significance known to ancient Indians. Common plant names in Sanskrit are thus rich store-house of wisdom, knowledge, experiences and past observations of an ambient natural world.
The alien species, as the native ones, are assigned two names. These are based on choice of nomenclaturist. The nominclaturists are preforce been forced to adapt the scientific names in accordance with the rules and principles of ICN (International Code of Nomenclature) for uniformity and convenience internationally. The present authors could notice some plant taxa which by their names and on etymological analysis, prima facie, appear to be Indian species. The fact is, however, contrary. When select 26 such species were studied critically for their nativity consulting relevant literature, they turned out to be aliens. Maximum alien species belong to various parts of American continent, while other regions or countries are represented by a few or a single species each. The taxa which appear to be Indian but basically they are aliens, a new term ‘pseudo-native’ for them is proposed. The authors also pointed out necessity to have evaluation regarding exotic status of species of flora of a region for better management of plant-wealth in future.
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