This dataset provides the Global Naturalized Alien Flora (GloNAF) database, version 1.2. GloNAF represents a data compendium on the occurrence and identity of naturalized alien vascular plant taxa across geographic regions (e.g. countries, states, provinces, districts, islands) around the globe. The dataset includes 13,939 taxa and covers 1,029 regions (including 381 islands). The dataset is based on 210 data sources. For each taxon‐by‐region combination, we provide information on whether the taxon is considered to be naturalized in the specific region (i.e. has established self‐sustaining populations in the wild). Non‐native taxa are marked as “alien”, when it is not clear whether they are naturalized. To facilitate alignment with other plant databases, we provide for each taxon the name as given in the original data source and the standardized taxon and family names used by The Plant List Version 1.1 (http://www.theplantlist.org/). We provide an ESRI shapefile including polygons for each region and information on whether it is an island or a mainland region, the country and the Taxonomic Databases Working Group (TDWG) regions it is part of (TDWG levels 1–4). We also provide several variables that can be used to filter the data according to quality and completeness of alien taxon lists, which vary among the combinations of regions and data sources. A previous version of the GloNAF dataset (version 1.1) has already been used in several studies on, for example, historical spatial flows of taxa between continents and geographical patterns and determinants of naturalization across different taxonomic groups. We intend the updated and expanded GloNAF version presented here to be a global resource useful for studying plant invasions and changes in biodiversity from regional to global scales. We release these data into the public domain under a Creative Commons Zero license waiver (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/). When you use the data in your publication, we request that you cite this data paper. If GloNAF is a major part of the data analyzed in your study, you should consider inviting the GloNAF core team (see Metadata S1: Originators in the Overall project description) as collaborators. If you plan to use the GloNAF dataset, we encourage you to contact the GloNAF core team to check whether there have been recent updates of the dataset, and whether similar analyses are already ongoing.

Regional species assemblages have been shaped by colonization, speciation and extinction over millions of years. Humans have altered biogeography by introducing species to new ranges. However, an analysis of how strongly naturalized plant species (i.e. alien plants that have established self-sustaining populations) affect the taxonomic and phylogenetic uniqueness of regional floras globally is still missing. Here, we present such an analysis with data from native and naturalized alien floras in 658 regions around the world. We find strong taxonomic and phylogenetic floristic homogenization overall, and that the natural decline in floristic similarity with increasing geographic distance is weakened by naturalized species. Floristic homogenization increases with climatic similarity, which emphasizes the importance of climate matching in plant naturalization. Moreover, floristic homogenization is greater between regions with current or past administrative relationships, indicating that being part of the same country as well as historical colonial ties facilitate floristic exchange, most likely due to more intensive trade and transport between such regions. Our findings show that naturalization of alien plants threatens taxonomic and phylogenetic uniqueness of regional floras globally. Unless more effective biosecurity measures are implemented, it is likely that with ongoing globalization, even the most distant regions will lose their floristic uniqueness.

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All materials CHN; vouchers are deposited in NS; collector E.Yu. Zykova. The study was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant 16-04-01246 A to E. Zykova). ASTERACEAE Anthemis tinctoria L., 2n = 18; Russia, Altay Republic, Z35a, Z37. 2n = 27; Russia, Altay Republic, Z35b. Arctium lappa L., 2n = 36; Russia, Altay Republic, Z38. Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh., 2n = 36; Russia, Altay Republic, Z41; Russia, Novosibirskaya Oblast, Z43. Senecio vulgaris L., 2n = 40; Russia, Altay Republic, Z56, Z90; Russia, Altaiskii Krai, Z55. Sonchus asper (L.) Hill, 2n = 18; Russia, Altay Republic, Z65a. 2n = 32; Russia, Altay Republic, Z65b, Z64. Sonchus oleraceus L., 2n = 18; Russia, Altay Republic, Z67. 2n = 32; Russia, Altay Republic, Z68, Z66, Z77. Tragopogon dubius Scop., 2n = 12; Russia, Novosibirskaya Oblasť, Z134. Tragopogon orientalis L., 2n = 12; Russia, Novosibirskaya Oblasť, Z70. BRASSICACEAE Brassica juncea (L.) Czern., 2n = 36; Russia, Altay Republic, Z15, Z16. EUPHORBIACEAE Euphorbia humifusa Willd., 2n = 22; Russia, Altay Republic, Z159. PLUMBAGINACEAE Plumbagella micrantha (Ledeb.) Spach, 2n = 12; Russia, Altay Republic, Z160. PORTULACACEAE Portulaca oleracea L., 2n = 54; Russia, Altaiskii Krai, Z152.