InDiCA
The Indian Digital Compendium of Alien & Invasive Flora
An Indian database for invasive alien plants
InDiCA (Indian Digital Compendium of Alien & Invasive Flora) is a research-supported, user-friendly, and dynamic digital platform dedicated to the documentation and dissemination of information on alien and invasive flora of India. The portal integrates taxonomic, ecological, distributional, and invasion-related information to support researchers, policymakers, students, conservation practitioners, and the broader scientific community.
The foundation of InDiCA originated during extensive research on invasive alien flora conducted in the states of Mizoram and Tripura beginning in 2018. During these investigations, the need for a scientifically curated, evidence-based, and regionally adaptable invasive flora database for India became increasingly evident. The initial conceptual outline and framework of the database were subsequently developed in 2019.
In 2022, the first operational version of the database was launched with preliminary stage-based invasive flora datasets specifically focused on Mizoram and Tripura. The database was later expanded and curated for the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), incorporating field observations, herbarium-supported records, ecological assessments, and invasion-stage categorization. From 2023 onward, the initiative progressively evolved into a Pan-Indian platform integrating invasive alien flora information from diverse biogeographic regions of the country.
A major strength of InDiCA lies in its emphasis on research-validated and field-supported data. The database primarily prioritizes:
- noxious invasive species,
- emerging neo-invasive taxa,
- ecologically transformative alien plants,
- and species with demonstrated invasive tendencies under Indian conditions.
Species known only from nursery catalogues, horticultural trade platforms, ornamental cultivation, or casual occurrences are maintained under a dedicated watchlist category and are not formally categorized as invasive unless sufficient ecological frequency, naturalization, spread dynamics, and field-supported invasion evidence are documented.
Designed with accessibility and scientific reliability in mind, the platform aims to:
- facilitate evidence-based research,
- promote awareness on plant invasions and invasion ecology,
- support long-term monitoring and management initiatives,
- provide dynamically updated biodiversity information,
- and strengthen collaborative research on alien and invasive flora across India through an interactive and evolving digital framework.
The database of Indian Digital Compendium of Alien & Invasive Flora is as follows:
View Database →| Accepted Names | Family | Nativity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hygrophila auriculata (Schumach.) Heine | Acanthaceae | Tropical Africa | |
| Hypoestes phyllostachya Baker | Acanthaceae | South Africa | |
| Ruellia tuberosa L. | Acanthaceae | Tropical America | |
| Thunbergia alata Bojer ex Sims | Acanthaceae | Eastern Africa | |
| Alternanthera paronychioides St. Hill. | Amaranthaceae | Tropical America | |
| Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mahrt.) Griseb. | Amaranthaceae | Tropical America | |
| Alternanthera sessilis (L.) DC. | Amaranthaceae | Tropical America | |
| Alternanthera ficoidea (L.) Sm. | Amaranthaceae | Tropical America | |
| Amaranthus spinosus L. | Amaranthaceae | Tropical America | |
| Celosia argentea L. | Amaranthaceae | Tropical Africa | |
| Gompherena serrata L. | Amaranthaceae | Tropical America | |
| Annona reticulata L. | Annonaceae | Tropical America | |
| Annona squamosa L. | Annonaceae | Tropical America | |
| Anethum graveolens L. | Apiaceae | South West Tropical Asia | |
| Apium graveolens L. | Apiaceae | Europe | |
| Eryngium foetidum L. | Apiaceae | Mexico | |
| Cascabela thevetia (L.) Lippold | Apocynaceae | Mexico | |
| Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. | Apocynaceae | Tropical America | |
| Plumeria rubra L. | Apocynaceae | Mexico | |
| Caladium bicolor (Aiton) Vent. | Araceae | South America | |
| Pistia stratiotes L. | Araceae | Tropical America | |
| Araucaria columnaris (G.Forst.) Hook. | Araucariaceae | Australia | |
| Araucaria excelsa F. Br | Araucariaceae | Australia | |
| Asclepias curassavica L. | Asclepiadaceae | Tropical America | |
| Calotropis procera (Ait.) R. Br. | Asclepiadaceae | Tropical Africa | |
| Acmella radicans (Jac.) R. R. Janses | Asteraceae | Mexico | |
| Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.) R.M.King & H.Rob. | Asteraceae | Mexico | |
| Ageratina riparia (Regel) R.M.King & H. Rob. | Asteraceae | Central America | |
| Ageratum houstonianum Mill. | Asteraceae | Tropical America | |
| Ageratum conyzoides (L.) L. | Asteraceae | Tropical America | |
| Artemisia vulgaris L. | Asteraceae | Europe | |
| Bidens pilosa L. | Asteraceae | Tropical America | |
| Blainvillea acmella (L.) Philipson | Asteraceae | Tropical America | |
| Blumea lacera (Burm.f.) DC. | Asteraceae | Tropical America | |
| Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King & H. Rob. | Asteraceae | South America | |
| Cosmos bipinnatus Cav. | Asteraceae | Mexico | |
| Crassocephalum crepidioides (Benth.) S. Moore | Asteraceae | Tropical America | |
| Cyanthillium cinereum (L.) H. Rob. | Asteraceae | Tropical Africa | |
| Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. | Asteraceae | Tropical America | |
| Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC. ex DC. | Asteraceae | Tropical America | |
| Erigeron canadensis L. | Asteraceae | South America | |
| Erigeron karvinskianus DC. | Asteraceae | Mexico | |
| Galinsoga parviflora Cav. | Asteraceae | Tropical America | |
| Grangea maderaspatana (L.) Pori | Asteraceae | South America | |
| Mikania micrantha Kunth. | Asteraceae | South America | |
| Parthenium hysterophorus L. | Asteraceae | North America | |
| Sonchus asper (L.) Hill | Asteraceae | Mediterranean | |
| Sonchus oleraceus (L.) L. | Asteraceae | Mediterranean | |
| Spilanthes acmella (L.) L. | Asteraceae | Brazil | |
| Synedrella nodiflora (L.) Gaertn. | Asteraceae | West Indies | |
| Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray | Asteraceae | Mexico | |
| Tridax procumbens (L.) L. | Asteraceae | Central America | |
| Xanthium strumarium L. | Asteraceae | Tropical America | |
| Youngia japonica (L.) DC. | Asteraceae | South America | |
| Calyptocarpus vialis Less. | Asteraceae | South America | |
| Jacaranda mimosifolia D.Don | Bignoniaceae | South America | |
| Kigelia pinnata Jacq. | Bignoniaceae | Tropical Africa | |
| Pyrostegia venusta (Ker Gawl.) Miers | Bignoniaceae | Brazil | |
| Bixa orrellana L. | Bixaceae | Brazil | |
| Rorippa dubia (Pers.) Hara. | Brassicaaceae | Tropical America | |
| Brassica oleracea L. | Brassicaceae | Europe | |
| Cardamine hirsuta L. | Brassicaceae | Tropical America | |
| Opuntia vulgaris Miller | Cactaceae | South America | |
| Cleome rutidosperma DC. | Capparaceae | Tropical America | |
| Cleome viscosa L. | Capparaceae | Tropical America | |
| Stellaria media (L.) Vill. | Caryophyllaceae | North America | |
| Casuarina equisetifolia L. | Casuarinaceae | Australia | |
| Ceratophyllum demersum L. | Ceratophyllaceae | Tropical America | |
| Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants | Chenopodiaceae | Tropical America | |
| Cuscuta chinensis Lam. | Convolvulaceae | Mediterranean | |
| Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. | Convolvulaceae | Mediterranean | |
| Evolvulus nummularius (L.) L. | Convolvulaceae | Tropical America | |
| Ipomoea alba L. | Convolvulaceae | Tropical America | |
| Ipomoea cairica Sweet | Convolvulaceae | Mediterranean | |
| Ipomoea quamoclit L. | Convolvulaceae | Tropical America | |
| Ipomoea carnea Jacq. | Convolvulaceae | Tropical America | |
| Ipomoea hederifolia L. | Convolvulaceae | Tropical America | |
| Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth | Convolvulaceae | South America | |
| Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Merr. | Crassulaceae | Madagascar | |
| Cupressus sempervirens L. | Cupressaceae | Australia | |
| Thuja occidentalis Bailey | Cupressaceae | North America | |
| Cyperus difformis L. | Cyperaceae | Tropical America | |
| Cyperus iria L. | Cyperaceae | Tropical America | |
| Croton bonplandianus Baill. | Euphorbiaceae | South America | |
| Euphorbia milii Des Moul. | Euphorbiaceae | Mediterranean | |
| Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch. | Euphorbiaceae | Mexico | |
| Euphorbia hirta L. | Euphorbiaceae | Tropical America | |
| Jatropha gossypifolia L. | Euphorbiaceae | Tropical America | |
| Manihot esculenta Crantz. | Euphorbiaceae | Tropical America | |
| Ricinus communis L. | Euphorbiaceae | Mediterranean | |
| Acacia auriculiformis Benth. | Fabaceae | Australia | |
| Aeschynomene americana L. | Fabaceae | Tropical America | |
| Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb. | Fabaceae | Tropical Africa | |
| Calliandra haematocephala Hassk. | Fabaceae | Tropical America | |
| Cassia fistula L. | Fabaceae | North America | |
| Crotalaria pallida Ait. | Fabaceae | Tropical America | |
| Delonix regia (Hook.) Raf. | Fabaceae | Madagascar | |
| Indigofera trita L.f. | Fabaceae | Tropical Africa | |
| Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit | Fabaceae | Mexico | |
| Melilotus alba Medik. ex Desr. | Fabaceae | Europe | |
| Mimosa diplotricha Wright | Fabaceae | South America | |
| Mimosa pudica L. | Fabaceae | Brazil | |
| Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. | Fabaceae | Tropical Africa | |
| Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) K.Heyne | Fabaceae | Malaysia | |
| Senna alata (L.) Roxb. | Fabaceae | South America | |
| Senna occidentalis (L.) Link. | Fabaceae | South America | |
| Senna tora (L.) Roxb. | Fabaceae | South America | |
| Tamarindus indicus L. | Fabaceae | Tropical Africa | |
| Ulex europaeus L. | Fabaceae | Europe | |
| Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Maesen & S.M.Almeida ex Sanjappa & Predeep | Fabaceae | Mexico | |
| Juniperus communis L. | Juniperaceae | North America | |
| Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. | Lamiaceae | Tropical America | |
| Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R.Br. | Lamiaceae | Tropical Africa | |
| Ocimum americanum L. | Lamiaceae | Tropical Africa | |
| Ammannia baccifera L. | Lythraceae | Tropical America | |
| Magnolia grandiflora L. | Magnoliaceae | North America | |
| Althea rosea (L.) Cav. | Malvaceae | Europe | |
| Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Garcke | Malvaceae | Tropical America | |
| Malvaviscus palmanus Pittier & Donn. Sm. | Malvaceae | Tropical America | |
| Sida acuta Burm.f. | Malvaceae | Tropical America | |
| Triumfetta rhomboidea Jacq. | Malvaceae | Tropical America | |
| Urena lobata L. | Malvaceae | Tropical Africa | |
| Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Skeels | Myrtaceae | Australia | |
| Corymbia maculata (Hook.) K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson | Myrtaceae | Australia | |
| Eucalyptus globules Labill. | Myrtaceae | Australia | |
| Bougainvillea glabra Choisy | Nyctaginaceae | Brazil | |
| Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. | Nyctaginaceae | Brazil | |
| Ludwigia adscendens (L.) Hara. | Onagraceae | Tropical Africa | |
| Ludwigia perennis L. | Onagraceae | Tropical Africa | |
| Oxalis corniculata L. | Oxalidaceae | Europe | |
| Argemone mexicana L. | Papaveraceae | South America | |
| Eschscholzia californica Cham. | Papaveraceae | Mexico | |
| Passiflora foetida L. | Passifloraceae | South America | |
| Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth | Piperaceae | South America | |
| Chloris barbata Sw. | Poaceae | Tropical America | |
| Echinochloa colona (L.) Link | Poaceae | South America | |
| Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch. | Poaceae | Tropical America | |
| Saccharum spontaneum L. | Poaceae | Tropical West Africa | |
| Antigonon leptopus Hook. & Arn. | Polygonaceae | Tropical America | |
| Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms. | Pontederiaceae | Tropical America | |
| Portulaca oleracea L. | Portulacaceae | South America | |
| Anagallis arvensis L. | Primulaceae | Europe | |
| Spermacoce hispida L. | Rubiaceae | Tropical America | |
| Mecardonia procumbens (Mill.)Small | Scrophulariaceae | Tropical North America | |
| Scoparia dulcis L. | Scrophulariaceae | Tropical America | |
| Brunfelsia americana L. | Solanaceae | West Indies | |
| Brunfelsia hopeana Benth. | Solanaceae | Tropical America | |
| Datura metel L. | Solanaceae | Tropical America | |
| Datura stramonium L. | Solanaceae | Tropical America | |
| Nicotiana plumbaginifolia Viv. | Solanaceae | Tropical America | |
| Physalis minima L. | Solanaceae | Tropical America | |
| Solanum torvum Sw. | Solanaceae | West Indies | |
| Dombeya mastersii Hook. f. | Sterculiaceae | Tropical Africa | |
| Melochia corchorifolia L. | Sterculiaceae | Tropical America | |
| Strelitzia reginae Banks | Strelitziaceae | South Africa | |
| Corchorus aestuans L. | Tiliaceae | South America | |
| Typha angustifolia L. | Typhaceae | Tropical America | |
| Pilea microphylla (L.) Liebm. | Urticaceae | South America | |
| Clerodendrum chinense (Osbeck) Mabb. | Verbenaceae | Vietnam | |
| Duranta erecta L. | Verbenaceae | Mexico | |
| Glandularia canadensis (L.) Small | Verbenaceae | South America | |
| Lantana camara L. | Verbenaceae | Tropical America | |
| Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L.) Vahl | Verbenaceae | Tropical America | |
| Cayratia trifolia (L.) Domin | Vitaceae | Australia |
- Sengupta, R., Kumari, S., Singh, A.R., Sahoo, B. P., Banerjee, S., Kamilya, S., Dash, S.S. (2025). From the Neotropics to India: Praxelis clematidea (Asteraceae: Eupatorieae), addition of a neo- invasive to the Flora of India. Nelumbo, 67 (2), 105-113. https://doi.org/10.20324/nelumbo/v67/2025/173552
- Sengupta, R., & Dash, S. S. (2024). Species distribution modelling to identify invasion hotspots of Ageratina riparia in Mizoram, India. Asian Journal of Forestry, 8 (2), 183-192. https://doi.org/10.13057/asianjfor/r080209
- Sengupta, R., & Dash, S. S. (2024). Allelopathic impact of Chromolaena odorata on the local crops in Mizoram, India. Research in Ecology, 6 (3), 12-21. https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v6i3.6344
- Sengupta, R., & Dash, S. S. (2024). Impacts and status of Invasion by Lantana camara in natural forests of an Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot region- A case study in Mizoram, India. Research in Ecology, 6 (3), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v6i3.6343
- Sengupta, R., & Dash, S. S. (2023). Predicting the Potential Invasion Hotspots of Chromolaena odorata under Current and Future Climate Change Scenarios in Heterogeneous Ecological Landscapes of Mizoram, India. Research in Ecology, 5(3), 19-30. https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v5i4.5920
- Sengupta, R., Kundu, A., Dhara, B., Mitra, A. K., & Dash, S. S (2023). Antimicrobial activity and phytoconstituents screening of noxious invasive alien plants, Ageratina adenophora and Chromolaena odorata from mizoram, a part of indo-burma biodiversity hotspot in india. Exploratory Animal and Medical Research, 13, 133-140. https://doi.org/10.52635/eamr/13(S)133-140
- Sengupta, R., & Dash, S. S. (2023). A contribution to the flora of Murlen National Park, Mizoram, a part of Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot in India. Nelumbo, 65 (1), 252-277. https://doi.org/10.20324/nelumbo/v65/2023/173057
- Sengupta, R., & Dash, S. S. (2023). Ecological impact of alien plant invasion in national parks of an Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot in India. Journal of Agriculture and Ecology, 15, 109-124. https://doi.org/10.58628/JAE-2315-119
- Sengupta, R., Dash, S. S., & Seal, T. (2023). Nutritional Assessment of Invasive Alien Plants as Bioprospecting Resources in Mizoram, an Indo-Burma Mega Biodiversity Hotspot in India. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, 57(2s): s381-s390. https://doi.org/10.5530/ijper.57.2s.44
- Sengupta, R., & Dash, S. S. (2022). A stage-based assessment of invasion and comparative inventory of the alien plants in Mizoram and Tripura, an Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot region in India. Nelumbo, 64(2), 8-13. https://doi.org/10.20324/nelumbo/v64/2022/172595
- Sengupta, R., & Dash, S. S. (2022). Quantitative assessment of the traditional uses of Invasive Alien Plants in Mizoram, an Indo-Burma Biodiversity hotspot region in India. Nelumbo, 64(1), 337-362. https://doi.org/10.20324/nelumbo/v64/2022/171096
- Sengupta, R., & Dash, S. S. (2021). A Comprehensive Inventory of Alien Plants in the Protected Forest Areas of Tripura and their Ecological Consequences. Nelumbo, 63(1), 163-182. https://doi.org/10.20324/nelumbo/v63/2021/165154
- Sengupta, R., & Dash, S. S. (2020). A comprehensive inventory and ecological assessment of alien plant invasion in Mizoram, India. Indonesian Journal of Forestry Research, 7(2), 135-154. https://doi.org/10.59465/ijfr.2020.7.2.135-154
- Sengupta, R., & Dash, S. S. (2020). Invasion Status of Three Non-Native Species from Family Asteraceae in Mizoram. Nelumbo, 62(1), 27-39. https://doi.org/10.20324/nelumbo/v62/2020/153742
New Species to Science
- Sengupta, R. & Dash, S.S. (2026), Arisaema siahaense sp. nov. (Araceae) from India. Nordic Journal of Botany e05107. https://doi.org/10.1002/njb.05107
- Sengupta, R., & Dash, S. S. (2024). A new species of Phtheirospermum (Orobanchaceae) from Mizoram, an Indo–Burma biodiversity hotspot in India. Phytotaxa, 645 (2), 172-178. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.645.2.6
Dr. Sudhansu Sekhar Dash
Scientist F and In-Charge, Technical Section
Botanical Survey of India
Kolkata - 700064
E-mail: ssdash@bsi.gov.in
Scientist F and In-Charge, Technical Section
Botanical Survey of India
Kolkata - 700064
E-mail: ssdash@bsi.gov.in
Dr. Rabishankar Sengupta
Research Associate, Integrate Database Project
Botanical Survey of India
Kolkata - 700064
E-mail: sengupta.rabishankar@gmail.com
Research Associate, Integrate Database Project
Botanical Survey of India
Kolkata - 700064
E-mail: sengupta.rabishankar@gmail.com
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Technical development partner for this website, responsible for design, development, and ongoing technical support.
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North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India - 743248
Phone: (+91) 98313 92394
E-mail: info@technicise.com
