Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Figure 3.

Figure 4.

Figure 5.

Figure 6.

Summary of invasive alien plant species encountered during the study_
| S.N. | Name | Family | Habit | Nativity | Longevity | Flowering |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ageratum conyzoides L. | Asteraceae | Herb | Tropical America | Annual | Dec-May |
| 2 | Ageratum houstonianum Mill. | Asteraceae | Herb | Tropical America | Annual | May-Nov |
| 3 | Alternanthera pungens Kunth | Amaranthaceae | Herb | Tropical America | Perennial | Mar-Oct |
| 4 | Argemone mexicana L. | Papaveraceae | Herb | Tropical south | Annual | Jan-Dec |
| 5 | Bidena pilosa L. | Asteraceae | Herb | Tropical America | Annual | Jan-Dec |
| 6 | Cardamine hirsuta L. | Asteraceae | Herb | Tropical America | Annual | Mar-Sept |
| 7 | Cassia occidentalis L. | Caesalpiniaceae | Shrub | Tropical south | Annual | Jan-Dec |
| 8 | Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br. | Asclepiadaceae | Shrub | Tropical Africa | Perennial | Jan-Dec |
| 9 | Celosia argentea L. | Amaranthaceae | Herb | Tropical Africa | Annual | Sept-Jan |
| 10 | Chromolaena odorata (L.) | Asteraceae | Herb | Tropical America | Perennial | Dec-Mar |
| 11 | Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. | Asteraceae | Herb | Europe | Annual | Mar-Aug |
| 12 | Croton bonplandianum Baill. | Euphorbiaceae | Herb | Temperate south America | Annual | Jan-Dec |
| 13 | Echinochloa colona (L.) Link. | Poaceae | Herb | Tropical south | Annual | Jun-Sept |
| 14 | Emilia sonchifolia (L.) | Asteraceae | Herb | Tropical America | Annual | Jul-Oct |
| 15 | Euphorbia heterophylla L. | Euphorbiaceae | Herb | Tropical America | Annual | Sept-Mar |
| 16 | Indigofera linnifolia (L.f.) | Paplionaceae | Herb | Tropical Africa | Perennial | May-Oct |
| 17 | Ipomoea carnea Jacq. | Convolvulaceae | Shrub | Tropical America | Perennial | Jan-Dec |
| 18 | Ipomoea quamoclit L. | Convolvulaceae | Climber | Tropical America | Annual | Jun-Oct |
| 19 | Lantana camara L. | Verbenaceae | Herb | Tropical America | Perennial | Jan-Dec |
| 20 | Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R. Br. | Lamiaceae | Herb | Tropical America | Annual | Sept-Nov |
| 21 | Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit | Mimosaceae | Tree | Tropical America | Perennial | Apr-Jul |
| 22 | Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Garcke | Malvaceae | Herb | Tropical America | Annual | Oct-Apr |
| 23 | Martynia annua L. | Pedaliaceae | Herb | Tropical America | Annual | Jul-Oct |
| 24 | Oxalis corniculata L. | Oxalidaceae | Herb | Europe | Perennial | Feb-Oct |
| 25 | Parthenium hysterophorus L. | Asteraceae | Herb | Tropical north | Annual | Oct-Mar |
| 26 | Peristrophe bicalyculata (Retz.) Nees | Acanthaceae | Herb | Tropical Africa | Perennial | Sept-Jan |
| 27 | Sida acuta Burm f. | Malvaceae | Herb | Tropical America | Perennial | Sept-May |
| 28 | Sonchus oleraceous L. | Asteraceae | Herb | Mediterranean | Annual | Mar-Nov |
| 29 | Tridax procumbens L. | Asteraceae | Herb | Tropical central | Annual | Jan-Dec |
| 30 | Urena lobata L. | Malvaceae | Shrub | Tropical America | Perennial | Feb-Oct |
| 31 | Xanthium strumarium L. | Asteraceae | Herb | Tropical America | Annual | Aug-Sept |
Phytosociology of invasive plant species encountered from 800–1000m AMSL (Range 3)_
| S.N. | NAME | F | D | BA | IVI | H’ | Cd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ageratum conyzoides L. | 16 | 13 | 0.00078 | 6.09844 | 0.10686 | 0.00041 |
| 2 | Ageratum houstonianum Mill. | 16 | 51.64 | 0.00145 | 12.3487 | 0.22044 | 0.00171 |
| 3 | Bidena pilosa L. | 16 | 10.64 | 0.00072 | 5.71551 | 0.09853 | 0.00036 |
| 4 | Boehmeria macrophylla (Thunb.) | 16 | 2.32 | 0.21657 | 15.2191 | 0.26305 | 0.00442 |
| 5 | Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. | 16 | 89.32 | 0.00678 | 18.6790 | 0.30901 | 0.00396 |
| 6 | Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. | 25 | 15 | 0.00093 | 8.65901 | 0.13139 | 0.00084 |
| 7 | Ipomoea carnea Jacq. | 16 | 16 | 0.04195 | 8.64880 | 0.15758 | 0.00103 |
| 8 | Lantana camara L. | 83 | 73.64 | 1.70715 | 118.181 | 0.67004 | 0.26830 |
| 9 | Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) | 33 | 20.32 | 0.00103 | 11.5036 | 0.16115 | 0.00148 |
| 10 | Oxalis corniculata L. | 75 | 240.32 | 0.00528 | 57.5282 | 0.53101 | 0.03706 |
| 11 | Parthenium hysterophorus L. | 83 | 82.32 | 0.00806 | 34.2300 | 0.34643 | 0.01321 |
| 12 | Sonchus oleraceous L. | 8.3 | 7 | 0.00008 | 3.18831 | 0.06541 | 0.00011 |
| 13 | Urena lobata L. | 16 | 4.54 | 0.0006 | 4.57218 | 0.07431 | 0.00023 |
| Total | 419.3 | 626.06 | 1.9914 | 300 | 3.11860 | 0.32753 |
Phytosociology of invasive plant species encountered at >1000m AMSL (Range 4)_
| S.N. | NAME | F | D | BA | IVI | H’ | Cd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ageratum conyzoides L. | 41 | 11.64 | 0.00107 | 10.33411 | 0.15129 | 0.001193 |
| 2 | Ageratum houstonianum Mill. | 50 | 22.32 | 0.00066 | 14.76674 | 0.20840 | 0.002433 |
| 3 | Bidena pilosa L. | 50 | 34 | 0.00335 | 17.95162 | 0.25468 | 0.003606 |
| 4 | Cardamine hirsuta L. | 16 | 7.64 | 0.00018 | 4.858068 | 0.09495 | 0.000263 |
| 5 | Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. | 50 | 84.32 | 0.01354 | 31.64427 | 0.40873 | 0.01126 |
| 6 | Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. | 25 | 5.32 | 0.00081 | 5.828146 | 0.09551 | 0.00038 |
| 7 | Lantana camara L. | 91 | 86.64 | 4.87483 | 138.601 | 0.67241 | 0.367264 |
| 8 | Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) | 58 | 23 | 0.00079 | 16.35513 | 0.21853 | 0.002985 |
| 9 | Oxalis corniculata L. | 66 | 22 | 0.00262 | 17.52797 | 0.22224 | 0.003435 |
| 10 | Parthenium hysterophorus L. | 66 | 49.64 | 0.00409 | 24.96496 | 0.31784 | 0.00697 |
| 11 | Sonchus oleraceous L. | 41 | 23.32 | 0.00062 | 13.45496 | 0.20403 | 0.00202 |
| 12 | Urena lobata L. | 16 | 3.32 | 0.0008 | 3.713032 | 0.06762 | 0.000154 |
| Total | 570 | 373.16 | 4.90336 | 300 | 2.91626 | 0.401966 |
Phytosociology of invasive plant species encountered from 600–800m AMSL (Range 2)_
| S.N. | NAME | F | D | BA | IVI | H’ | Cd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ageratum conyzoides L. | 66.6 | 84.32 | 0.0103 | 17.4961 | 0.24433 | 0.00344 |
| 2 | Ageratum houstonianum Mill. | 58.3 | 76.32 | 0.00691 | 15.5278 | 0.22705 | 0.00270 |
| 3 | Alternanthera pungens Kunth | 16.6 | 5.32 | 0.00006 | 2.80783 | 0.05174 | 0.00008 |
| 4 | Bidena pilosa L. | 41.6 | 49 | 0.00533 | 10.5581 | 0.17147 | 0.00125 |
| 5 | Celosia argentea L. | 8.3 | 5.32 | 0.00028 | 1.66458 | 0.03779 | 0.00003 |
| 6 | Croton bonpandlianum Baill. | 16.6 | 10.64 | 0.00029 | 3.32528 | 0.06539 | 0.00012 |
| 7 | Euphorbia heterophylla L. | 16.6 | 12 | 0.00099 | 3.46679 | 0.06900 | 0.00013 |
| 8 | Ipomoea carnea Jacq. | 16.6 | 9.32 | 0.01143 | 3.35802 | 0.06623 | 0.00013 |
| 9 | Ipomoea quamoclit L. | 16.6 | 1.32 | 0.00008 | 2.42154 | 0.04096 | 0.00006 |
| 10 | Indigofera linnifolia (L.f.) Retz. | 25 | 5.64 | 0.00006 | 3.99897 | 0.06541 | 0.00017 |
| 11 | Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit | 25 | 3.32 | 1.6503 | 27.5216 | 0.41079 | 0.01570 |
| 12 | Lantana camara L. | 100 | 189.64 | 4.8336 | 101.695 | 0.68362 | 0.19388 |
| 13 | Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R. Br. | 50 | 23 | 0.3643 | 14.3711 | 0.22116 | 0.00314 |
| 14 | Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Garcke | 41.6 | 60 | 0.00261 | 11.5820 | 0.18894 | 0.0015 |
| 15 | Oxalis corniculata L. | 41.6 | 112.64 | 0.00084 | 16.6439 | 0.26548 | 0.00309 |
| 16 | Parthenium hysterophorus L. | 91.6 | 312 | 0.05954 | 43.6618 | 0.47971 | 0.02166 |
| 17 | Peristrophe bicalyculata | 16.6 | 6.64 | 0.00011 | 2.93612 | 0.05520 | 0.00009 |
| 18 | Sida acuta L. | 25 | 53 | 0.00075 | 8.58599 | 0.16250 | 0.00082 |
| 19 | Cassia occidentalis L. | 16.6 | 5.32 | 0.00076 | 2.81790 | 0.05201 | 0.00008 |
| 20 | Urena lobata L. | 16.6 | 7.64 | 0.00038 | 3.03665 | 0.05788 | 0.00010 |
| 21 | Xanthium strumarium L. | 16.6 | 2.32 | 0.00036 | 2.52221 | 0.04383 | 0.00007 |
| Total | 724 | 1034.72 | 6.94928 | 300 | 3.66058 | 0.24832 |
Phytosociology of invasive plant species encountered from 400–600m AMSL (Range 1)_
| S.N. | NAME | F | D | BA | IVI | H’ | Cd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ageratum conyzoides L. | 33.3 | 32.32 | 0.00394 | 10.1166 | 0.15448 | 0.00115 |
| 2 | Argemone mexicana L. | 8.3 | 4 | 0.00046 | 2.07456 | 0.04168 | 0.00004 |
| 3 | Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br. | 16.6 | 12.32 | 0.04708 | 5.81129 | 0.10980 | 0.00045 |
| 4 | Celosia argentea L. | 8.3 | 2.64 | 0.00022 | 1.92299 | 0.03721 | 0.00004 |
| 5 | Croton bonpandlianum Baill. | 16.6 | 68.32 | 0.00355 | 10.6636 | 0.20085 | 0.00127 |
| 6 | Echinocloa colona (L.) Link. | 25 | 12.32 | 0.00019 | 6.24665 | 0.09767 | 0.00043 |
| 7 | Euphorbia heterophylla L. | 16.6 | 8.32 | 0.00113 | 4.18879 | 0.07271 | 0.00019 |
| 8 | Indigofera linnifolia (L.f.) Retz. | 16.6 | 39.32 | 0.00053 | 7.48600 | 0.14396 | 0.00062 |
| 9 | Ipomoea carnea Jacq. | 16.6 | 13 | 0.01592 | 5.07357 | 0.09351 | 0.00031 |
| 10 | Lantana camara L. | 83.3 | 102.64 | 2.51676 | 92.8332 | 0.66177 | 0.16358 |
| 11 | Lucaenea leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit | 33.3 | 3.32 | 0.53093 | 20.7231 | 0.31077 | 0.00796 |
| 12 | Martynia annua L. | 16.6 | 23.64 | 0.00513 | 5.92999 | 0.11234 | 0.00040 |
| 13 | Oxalis corniculata L. | 25 | 51.32 | 0.00046 | 10.4214 | 0.17827 | 0.00121 |
| 14 | Parthenium hysterophorus L. | 91.6 | 366.32 | 0.69915 | 75.3754 | 0.61101 | 0.07856 |
| 15 | Peristrophe bicalyculata (Retz.) Nees | 25 | 34 | 0.00392 | 8.66049 | 0.14647 | 0.00084 |
| 16 | Cassia occidentalis L. | 25 | 9 | 0.00415 | 5.99485 | 0.09214 | 0.00040 |
| 17 | Sida acuta L. | 16.6 | 105 | 0.00162 | 14.5332 | 0.26031 | 0.00236 |
| 18 | Urena lobata L. | 8.3 | 2.32 | 0.00044 | 1.89451 | 0.03636 | 0.00004 |
| 19 | Xanthium strumarium L. | 25 | 45.64 | 0.0095 | 10.0495 | 0.17178 | 0.00115 |
| Total | 507.6 | 935.76 | 3.84508 | 300 | 3.53318 | 0.26108 |