– Author Pratistha Sharma –
Scholar B. Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture
Lantana camara (family Verbenaceae) is a perennial, evergreen, woody shrub of neotropical origin, widely recognized for its invasive behavior and adaptability across varied agro-ecological zones. Originally native to Central and South America, it has become naturalized in over 60 countries and is listed among the world’s top ten most invasive alien plant species. In India, it occupies millions of hectares of forest and wasteland, posing a major ecological and agricultural challenge. It has taken over nearly 40% of the land area in several Indian tiger reserves. Its remarkable survival potential under diverse climatic conditions, coupled with its ability to propagate both sexually and vegetatively, has enabled it to dominate native ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, and threaten agricultural productivity.
The introduction of Lantana camara into India dates back to the early nineteenth century when the British brought it as an ornamental garden plant due to its attractive, multicolored inflorescences and long flowering period. Initially valued for its horticultural beauty, it soon escaped cultivation and spread rapidly into open forests, pasturelands, and degraded areas. The species’ exceptional fecundity—facilitated by seed dispersal through birds (ornithochory) and animals (zoochory)—along with its resilience to drought and grazing pressure, led to its naturalization and subsequent invasiveness. Over time, it became a serious weed, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions, where it competes vigorously with native flora and regenerating crops.
Botanically, Lantana camara is a multi-branched, erect to scandent shrub that reaches up to 3 meters in height. The leaves are opposite, ovate, rough in texture, and emit a strong odor due to the presence of aromatic oils and triterpenoids. The inflorescence is a compact head consisting of small tubular flowers that exhibit color polymorphism—ranging from yellow, orange, and red to pink and purple—depending on cultivar and environmental conditions. The fruit is a small, two-seeded drupe that turns from green to black when mature. Dispersal occurs primarily through endozoochory, as fruits are consumed by birds and mammals. The plant reproduces both through seeds and vegetative fragments such as rootstocks and stem cuttings, ensuring its persistence even after mechanical disturbance or fire.
Despite its classification as an invasive species, Lantana camara has limited economic and ecological utility. Its deep and fibrous root system aids in soil binding and erosion control on degraded slopes and wastelands. In Himachal Pradesh, along the roadside stretch from Parwanoo to Solan, lantana was observed growing in abundance. During recent landslides in the region, only those mountain sections where lantana roots held the soil firmly remained intact, whereas other stretches collapsed. Thus, although it is an invasive species, it can be utilized for protection against soil erosion and landslides. Certain ornamental cultivars continue to be used in landscaping due to their vibrant and long-lasting blooms. In traditional medicine, extracts from its leaves, roots, and flowers have been used to treat fever, skin diseases, ulcers, and wounds, although the plant’s toxic compounds limit safe medicinal use. It also supports pollinator populations, particularly butterflies and bees, and its woody biomass is sometimes used as low-grade fuel or for rural handicrafts. However, these benefits are minimal when compared to the significant ecological and agricultural harm it inflicts.
The detrimental effects of Lantana camara are extensive and multifaceted. It exhibits strong allelopathic properties, releasing phenolic compounds and triterpenoids such as lantadene A and B into the soil, which inhibit germination and growth of nearby crops and native species. These compounds are also toxic to livestock, causing hepatotoxicity, photosensitization, and, in severe cases, mortality when ingested. The species forms dense monospecific thickets that outcompete native vegetation, suppress forest regeneration, and alter nutrient cycling and soil microbial composition. Its invasion reduces grazing potential and wildlife habitat quality, while its dry biomass contributes to increased fire frequency and intensity in invaded landscapes. Consequently, Lantana camara has been identified as a major impediment to ecosystem restoration and sustainable land management.
Effective management of Lantana camara requires an integrated, science-based approach that combines mechanical, chemical, biological, and ecological methods. Mechanical control through manual uprooting or mechanical excavation before seed set is effective in small infestations but is labor-intensive and costly on a large scale. Repeated slashing or cutting may temporarily reduce biomass, but regrowth from underground rootstocks is common. Controlled burning is occasionally used but must be combined with follow-up treatments to prevent resprouting. Chemical control using systemic herbicides such as glyphosate (1–1.5%), triclopyr (0.5–1%), and 2,4-D can suppress regrowth effectively when applied through foliar spray or cut-stump methods; however, environmental safety and impacts on non-target species must be carefully considered.
Biological control has been explored extensively, with mixed success. Several insects—including Teleonemiascrupulosa (lantana bug), Octotomascabripennis (leaf-mining beetle), and Calycomyzalantanae (leaf-mining fly)—have been introduced in different regions to weaken plant vigor, along with fungal pathogens such as Alternaria alternata and Cercosporalantanae. While these biocontrol agents have provided partial suppression, complete eradication has not been achieved due to regional variability and environmental limitations. Ecological control methods, including the re-establishment of competitive native grasses and fast-growing tree species such as Leucaena leucocephala and Cassia siamea following lantana removal, are crucial to preventing reinvasion. Long-term success depends on restoring ecosystem resilience rather than relying solely on eradication.
Recent research efforts have focused on mapping and monitoring Lantana camara invasion using remote sensing and GIS-based models to identify priority control zones. Biochemical studies are also exploring the isolation of lantana’s allelochemicals for potential use as bioherbicides. Moreover, biotechnological approaches aim to understand genetic traits associated with its invasiveness and develop predictive models for its spread under changing climatic conditions. Integrated weed management (IWM) strategies that combine mechanical removal, herbicide application, biocontrol, and ecological restoration have proven most sustainable when supported by community participation and policy-level coordination.
In conclusion, Lantana camara exemplifies the complex challenges posed by invasive alien plant species in tropical agro-ecosystems. Originally introduced for ornamental purposes, it has become an ecological threat of global significance, reducing agricultural productivity, native biodiversity, and forest regeneration capacity. Sustainable management of Lantana camara requires coordinated, multidisciplinary efforts integrating traditional weed control techniques with modern technological tools, ecological restoration, and community engagement. Only through continuous monitoring, adaptive management, and the restoration of native vegetation can its invasion be mitigated and ecological balance be maintained.
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Very informative article