Non-native flora in seed banks across five diverse urban ecosystems in Indian dry tropics and their economic uses

Abstract

Urban expansion has been reported to facilitate intrusion of alien plants into seed bank flora from different continents of the world. The vegetation structure in anthropogenic ecosystems of Meerut region has become home to variety of alien species that could have a significant impact on the composition of seed bank flora and the ecological processes in vicinity by virtue of better adaptive potential of these exotics. Five anthropic study sites in a dry tropical urban region of Meerut were selected for seed bank studies. A total of 44 alien plant species were recorded in the summer and winter seed banks from 100 soil samples (20 from each site). The most prominent families of dominant alien species in seed banks were: Amaranthaceae (7), Malvaceae (6), Asteraceae (3), Solanaceae (3), Poaceae (2), Convolvulaceae (2), Fabaceae (2) and Euphorbiaceae (2). Seventeen other families had one species each. These urban seed banks were dominated by herbs (93.2%), followed by tree species (4.5%) and climbers (2.3%). Of the 44 alien flora identified in the seed banks, the flora of tropical American continent was most dominant (40.9%) followed by South America (22.7%), Europe and Asia (11.4% each); North America and Africa (4.5% each); and others viz. Australia and Asia-Africa (2.3% each). These naturalized alien species in seed banks were threats to Indian dry tropical ecosystems. However, these could variously be utilized to cure skin diseases, stomach problems, fever, parasitic diseases, dysentery, diuretic, eyes, respiratory disorder, cough, decoction, mental disorder, liver, muscles disorder, antimicrobial activities, female sexual disorder, inflammation, piles, diabetes, ear, anticancer, hair, hydrocele, hydrophobia, kidney and could also be used as food & nutrients, fodder, cardio-tonic, anti-toxin, cleaner, insect repellents, environmental friendly.