An exotic is a plant that is not native to the region. Exotic is strictly defined as “An introduction from a foreign country”. Exotic is one which is grown outside the limits of its natural range. SOME SUCCESSFUL EXOTICS IN INDIA: Casuarina, Eucalyptus, Poplars, Silver Oak, Wattles, Tropical pines etc.

1. EXOTICS
VIMAL PRIYA SUBRAMANIAN

2. INTRODUCTION
An exotic is a plant that is not native to the region. Exotic
is strictly defined as “An introduction from a foreign
country”. Exotic is one which is grown outside the limits of
its natural range.
SOME SUCCESSFUL EXOTICS IN INDIA:
Casuarina, Eucalyptus, Poplars, Silver Oak, Wattles,
Tropical pines etc.

3. ADVANTAGES
 In tropic & sub tropics, the exotic coniferous
timbers have a great need to their superior wood
quality because the indigenous forests frequently
do not contain the required quality wood.
 The productivity of indigenous forests are very
low but the exotic plantations have the
production potential and hence they are
preferred predominantly for productive industrial

4.  Exotic species have wider adaptability and multipurpose
utility compared to the indigenous species which are attracted by
several forest based industries.
 Most of the exotics are fast growers which resulting in
lowering of the rotation period and increased economic
returns. Some of the exotics like Casuarina & Eucalyptus are
harvested in less than 5 years. Where in no indigenous species
are harvested within this period.
 Exotics are easy to handle both silvi culturally and ecologically
due to their short rotation, fast growing & multi utility.

5.  Most foresters generally prefer to use species that are more
uniform & whose products are known and accepted. Hence the
exotics are widely accepted as a species with uniformity &
easy to manage.
 Marketing potential and manufacturing technology favors the
use of exotic wood such as Pines, Poplars, Eucalyptus etc.
compared to indigenous species.

6.  Availability of quality seed & planting stock is a key to
success in any plantation forestry programme. The seed of
indigenous species are sometimes hard to obtain due to poor
understanding of reproductive biology. On the other hand
several exotic species have been developed into improved
genetic stock resulting in better quality and more uniform
trees from which seeds are easily available.

7. PROBLEMS OF THE
EXOTICS SPECIES
 Immediate failure of the introduced plantation is one of
the major problems of the exotics.
 They are instance of delayed failure of exotics. Initially the
exotics species exhibit good survival & growth but over
periods they do not develop into useful forests.
 The exotics may have a continued substandard performance
resulting is low production and poor quality.

8.  The exotics have initial survival & growth but later on
attacked by pest and disease resulting in complete failure of
the plantations.
 Growth of the exotics may be unsatisfactory due to storage or
absence of mycorrhizae.
 The newly established exotics may be initially pest free but
later on it is infected with pest and disease resulting in complete
failure of the plantations.
 In certain case exotics also one of the casual factor for
poisoning of the soil through allelopathy effect due to the
secretion of toxic substances.

9.  Adverse weather conditions like drought, cold and violent
weather are the cause for failure of exotics, extremes of
weather result in loss in growth and quality and sometimes
lead to the death of the plants.
 Few exotics develop abnormality in its new environment
resulting in loss of apical dominance, crooked development &
with multiple tops.
 Exotics also can change the quality & amount of water
supply that drains from the forests.