Hypoestes phyllostachya Baker: A New Record of Invasive Alien Plant Species from Uttarakhand, India

Invasive alien plant species pose a serious threat to plant diversity worldwide, including in India. Many alien plant species have invaded various habitats in the past, making them difficult to control and manage. An interesting plant was collected during a recent floral exploration excursion to the Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand. This plant was later identified as Hypoestes phyllostachya Baker, commonly known as the Polka Dot Plant. This invasive alien plant species was previously reported from the state of Kerala as a new record for India and later reported from West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. A critical review of the literature shows that this is a new record for North India. This paper deals with the taxonomic treatment of Hypoestes phyllostachya Baker and its potential threats to native plants in Rajaji National Park and in North India across different habitats.