Lantana camara species : Ornamental Plant
Lantana camara species introduced decades ago as an ornamental plant, now infests approximately 3,25,282 hectares of forests in Himachal Pradesh, posing a threat to the State’s native biodiversity.
- Lantana camara is an invasive alien species.
- It is a pantropical weed species, is native to the tropical and sub-tropical regions of Central and South America.
- It is an exotic weed that aggressively proliferates and forms a dense mesh of bushes.
- In India, it was first introduced in the early 18th century, and since then, it has invaded almost all the tropical areas across the country.
- It has been observed that it has been infesting from lower areas towards higher regions.
- It is known to produce allelochemicals that restrict the growth of other species under its canopy.
- Hence, it replaces native flora, resulting in homogeneous vegetation, significantly contributing to decline in biodiversity.
- Its management can be achieved by using its biomass for socioeconomic purposes — its timber for making furniture and also as fuelwood, etc.
- Its biomass can be used to produce organic compost and vermicompost, which will be better for organic farming and an alternative to inorganic manures available in the market.
