Invasion alert for the alien plant xanthosoma sagittifolium (l.) schott (araceae) in the east bardhaman district of West Bengal, India

Tania or, Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott, native to northern South America and a fast-growing herb from the Liliopsid family Araceae, has been intentionally introduced in many regions of the globe as an alien species - to be used as a food crop and fodder. There it subsequently became invasive. Within India, the plant is already been reported from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and erstwhile undivided district of Bardhaman in West Bengal. Here, some insights into existing nomenclature of the species, knowledge on food uses, potential pathway causes for invasion and needs for immediate application of necessary control measures are being discussed with the anticipation that this study may be helpful to policymakers for the management of this alien plant species before it becomes invasive in West Bengal, India and in the East Bardhaman district of West Bengal, in particular.