Page 299 - e-Book

Lantana camara L. : An İnvasive Weed As A Potential Green Bio-Resource

Vartika Jain

Assistant Professor
Department of Botany, Government Meera Girls’ College, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

E-mail: vartikabotany@gmail.com
ABSTRACT

Invasive alien species are not considered as a healthy component for natural biodiversity of

any invaded area. Lantana camara L.; member of family Verbenaceae and native of America
is an ornamental shrub. İts negative socio-ecological impacts have been observed in many

parts of the world. Lantana menace is being combated with an integrative management
strategy including mechanical, biological, chemical, cultural, and ecological approaches by

the affected countries. An attempt has been made to assess the eco-friendly and economic
potential of this globally invasive weed as a sustainable bio-resource. In India, local

communities are utilizing Lantana bushes for making sturdy furniture, toys, bee-keeping

boxes, fish-catchers, hangers, domestic articles etc. Different parts of the plant are being
utilized by ethnic people to treat various ailments of human body. Besides, it has also shown

potential in form of production of bioethanol, biofumigant against pests of stored grains,

natural eco-friendly dyes from its flowers, raw material for paper manufacture, green
synthesis of nanoparticles, green manure by improving soil fertility, phytoremediation of

heavy metal polluted sites, biocontrol agent against biological organisms and as a
bioherbicide etc. in many studies carried out in different parts of the world. Hence, this

invasive weed possesses potential to be utilized as an eco-friendly green bio-resource for a
sustainable future as well as an additional source of income for local people.

Keywords: Biofuel, Phytoremediation, Nanoparticles, Furniture, Bioherbicide

INTRODUCTION
Invasion of any biological species to a place apart from its natural habitat may have

deleterious effects on various components of ecosystem of that region. Therefore, mostly
invasive alien species are not considered as a healthy component for natural biodiversity of

the invaded area. Besides habitat destruction, invasive species also possess threats for
economy and human beings in myriad ways (Priyanka and Joshi, 2013).

Lantana camara L. (Family-Verbenaceae); hereafter referred as Lantana is considered

one of the most noxious weeds and a globally invasive shrub of the world. It is commonly
known as Wild Sage, Red Sage, Large leaf lantana etc. and is a highly variable perennial

289