Refers to those
species
occurring naturally in a particular area; also termed
indigenous
and therefore not
introduced by humans either accidentally or
intentionally.
Any
organism characteristic of or existing by
virtue of geographic origin, born,
living or
growing
historically in a particular place or region from the beginning
that occurs at least partly in natural
habitats. In this
context, a species which has lived in a particular region for
thousands of years, such that it has
co-evolved with its
associates (animals, other
plants,
fungi, and
bacteria).
It is not enough for the plant to have
reproduced in the area
for a few generations unaided by human beings; the native
species are those that has not been newly
introduced by humans
into an ecosystem. Sometimes new species are introduced ,
accidentally or otherwise, by humans to a place from other
countries. These new species are called “naturalized”
"invaders" or "non-natives."
