International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Biological Sciences 2278-3202 9 4 2020 11 10 Exotic plant invasion in India through the lens of archaeobotanical evidences: An overview 83 94 EN Raval Hiral S. 1 Department of Zoology, B.P. Baria Science Institute, Navsari, Affiliated with Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat, Gujarat, India Shah Alkesh I. 2 Department of Zoology, B.P. Baria Science Institute, Navsari, Affiliated with Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat, Gujarat, India E. Etim Marylene 1 Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria C. Eze Chinwe 2 Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria O. Ikeanumba Michael 3 Department of Biology, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria E. Adieze Ifechukwu 4 Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria Hande Dilip 1 P.G. Department of Botany Shri Shivaji Science College Amaravati, Dist. Amaravati-44603, MS, India M. Athar Sifal 2 P.G. Department of Botany Shri Shivaji Science College Amaravati, Dist. Amaravati-44603, MS, India Pandirkar Akshay 1 Environment & Ecology Department, Tata Consulting Engineers, Unit No. NB 1502 & SB -1501, 15th floor, Empire Tower, Cloud City Campus, Kalwa Industrial Estate, Thane, Belapur Rd, Airoli, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 400708 Kumar Alok 2 Environment & Ecology Department, Tata Consulting Engineers, Unit No. NB 1502 & SB -1501, 15th floor, Empire Tower, Cloud City Campus, Kalwa Industrial Estate, Thane, Belapur Rd, Airoli, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 400708 Buragohain M. 1 Department of Chemistry, Lakhimpur Girls College, Assam, India Kakoti N. 2 Department of Chemistry, Lakhimpur Girls College, Assam, India Sarmah P. 3 Department of Chemistry, Lakhimpur Girls College, Assam, India Mahanta S.R. 4 Department of Chemistry, Lakhimpur Girls College, Assam, India Pegu B.K. 5 Department of Life Sciences, Dibrugarh University, Assam, India Saha Tomalika 1 Department of Entomology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh Ahmad Masum 2 Department of Entomology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh Das Gopal 3 Department of Entomology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh Abdullahi 1 Biology Department, Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil J.M. 2 Biological Science Department, Bayero University Kano N. Abdullahi 3 Mahmood Tahir 1 Centre for Biodiversity Studies Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri, 185234-Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir, India Majeed Aquib 2 Centre for Biodiversity Studies Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri, 185234-Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir, India Dhingani R.M. 1 Department of FQA, College of FPTBE, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India Shah G. 2 Department of Biotechnology, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat, Gujarat, India Divyashree K.A. 1 Department of Biotechnology, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam -638 401, Erode District, Tamil Nadu, India Snajuvikasini V. 2 Department of Biotechnology, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam -638 401, Erode District, Tamil Nadu, India Karthick P. Jeyavel 3 Department of Biotechnology, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam -638 401, Erode District, Tamil Nadu, India D.A. Patil 1 Post-Graduate Department of Botany, S.S.V.P. Sansthas L.K. Dr. P.R. Ghogrey Science College, Dhule-424005, MS, India > Review Paper 2020 7 5 2020 11 10 The present author looked at archaeobotanical evidences particularly with the objective of plant invasion in India either through introduction and domestication of plant species and naturalisation of other wild species. India had religious and cultural contacts with other countries abroad in ancient period. The native Indian people appropriated, absorbed or bioprospected potentially beneficial exotic plant species and thereby made integral part of Indian culture. A literary survey was done knowing occurrence of exclusively exotic cultivated plant species revealed or depicted in archaeological sites and structures. Their exotic status has been verified by comparing relevant literature to decipher their respective nativity. Significant comments in botanical perspective are made. The exotic species appeared to have adapted for dietary needs, medicine, beautycare and even socio-religious purposes. Present attempt included total 74 exotic cultivated or wild taxa pertaining to 68 genera and 30 angiospermic families. These are evaluated for their nativity consulting recent and relevant literary sources. Apart from proximal Asian countries, exotic taxa from distant continents such as America, Africa, Europe and Australia predominated exotic flora of India in ancient past. Plant invasion in India in ancient period is discussed based on evidences borrowed from archeobotanical dataset. Ancient Indians inducted and domesticated plant species from different parts of the Old and New worlds for the concrete purposes. These have been also appropriated for religious purposes and thus also find place in Indian bioculture. Copyright@ International Science Community Association