Interesting! Why Lovable Lantana Camara Plant is so Invasive in India? – Complete Details – 10 Key Facts – UPSC Questions

Indeed it’s an invasive plant in Entire India. A place, where you can find bushes, you can find Lantana camara most of the time. This is a greenery plant which consists of some most attracted fragranced & colorful flowers. In India, this plant known with many names & variety, but fragrance is common thing between them.

Due to recent headlines, for those, who are preparing for Major competitive examinations in India such as UPSC & SSC or many more, needs to know details about the plant ‘Lantana camara’.

If you are also looking for details about the plant Lantana camara, then this blog is for you.

So, let’s start-

This innovative approach not only raises awareness about environmental conservation but also showcases the potential of repurposing invasive plants for creative and educational purposes.

The display has traveled globally, emphasizing the importance of harmonious living between humans and wildlife, making Lantana camara a symbol of ecological awareness.

Source – The Hindu

While cultivated as an ornamental plant for its aesthetic appeal, Lantana camara has become an invasive species in various parts of the world, including India and Australia. Its ability to form dense thickets and outcompete native vegetation raises ecological concerns.

On the other hand, “camara” has Greek origins, translating to ‘arched,’ ‘chambered,’ or ‘vaulted.’ The combination of these names reflects the characteristics of the plant’s flowers resembling those of the wayfaring tree and the architectural connotations associated with the term “camara.”

Together, the name encapsulates the botanical traits and visual features of the Lantana camara plant.

Complete Details about Lantana Camara

We have added a complete Details about Lantana Camara Below-

This plant has expanded beyond its native habitat, becoming invasive in approximately 50 countries. Introduced to Europe by Dutch explorers, it later spread to Asia, Oceania, and Goa through Portuguese influence.

L. camara’s invasive nature poses a threat to biodiversity by outcompeting native species. In addition, its toxicity to livestock and dense growth in agricultural areas can negatively impact farmland productivity.

Photos of Lantana Camara

1. Growth Pattern: Lantana camara is a perennial shrub that can grow in an upright, sprawling, or climbing manner, reaching heights of 2 to 6 meters.
2. Leaf Characteristics: The leaves are broad, ovate, and emit a strong odor when crushed.
3. Flower Variety: The plant produces small tubular flowers in clusters, showcasing an array of colors including red, yellow, white, pink, and orange.
4. Color Change: After pollination, the flower colors can change from yellow to shades of orangish, pinkish, or reddish, serving as a signal for pollinators.
5. Fragrance: The flower emits a tutti-frutti scent with a peppery undertone.
6. Blooming Period: In frost-free climates, Lantana camara can bloom year-round, especially in moist soil conditions.
7. Fruit Description: The fruit is a dark purple, berry-like drupe that is inedible due to the presence of dense spikes on the rind.
8. Reproductive Capacity: The plant reproduces through both seeds and vegetative means, with each plant capable of producing up to 12,000 fruits.
9. Habitat: Lantana camara is highly adaptable and can form dense thickets in various environments, even climbing up trees in suitable conditions.

1. Adaptability: Highly adaptable species native to the American tropics.
2. Rapid Spread: Spreads quickly once introduced, found between 45ºN and 45ºS at altitudes above 1,400 meters.
3. Global Distribution: Invasive in around 50 countries, initially introduced to Europe by Dutch explorers.
4. Invasive History: Spread further into Asia and Oceania, becoming a notorious weed.
5. Introduced to Goa: Former Estado da Índia Portuguesa by the Portuguese.
6. Biodiversity Impact: Can outcompete native species, leading to reduced biodiversity.
7. Agricultural Issues: Invades agricultural areas, toxic to livestock, and forms dense thickets.
8. Productivity Reduction: Unchecked growth can significantly reduce farmland productivity.
9. Perennial Shrub: Lantana camara is a perennial shrub.
10. Varied Growth Forms: Exhibits erect, sprawling, or scandent (climbing) growth forms.
11. Height Range: Typically grows to around 2 meters, but can reach up to 6 meters.
12. Leaf Characteristics: Broadly ovate, opposite, and simple leaves with a strong odor when crushed.
13. Flower Structure: Small tubular-shaped flowers with four petals, arranged in clusters.
14. Color Varieties: Flowers come in various colors, including red, yellow, white, pink, and orange.
15. Fragrance: Flowers emit a tutti frutti smell with a peppery undertone.
16. Pollination Signal: Color changes post-pollination, signaling reward and sexual viability.
17. Year-Round Blooming: In frost-free climates, it can bloom throughout the year.
18. Flower Color Varieties (Australia): Pink, White, Pink-edged Red, Red, and Orange.
19. Fruit Description: Berry-like drupe turning from green to dark purple when mature.
20. Reproduction: Reproduces through both seed and vegetative means, with each plant capable of producing up to 12,000 fruits.

1. Edible Tea: Aromatic leaves make a flavorful tea.
2. Sweet Snack: Ripe black fruits are enjoyed as a sweet snack.
3. Medicinal Properties: Contains compounds with antimicrobial and insecticidal properties.
4. Essential Oils: Leaves and flowers have essential oils with various health benefits.
5. Traditional Medicine: Used in herbal medicine for treating flu, cough, and skin issues.
6. Rheumatic Relief: Leaves applied as a poultice on rheumatic joints.
7. Root Decoction: Used to address influenza, fever, and dental problems.
8. Haemostatic Flowers: Flowers aid in treating bleeding conditions.
9. Agroforestry Pioneer: Acts as a pioneer species, aiding rainforest tree growth.
10. Erosion Control: Extensive roots help prevent soil erosion.
11. Hedge Growth: Responds well to trimming, often used as a hedge.
12. Living Fences: Traditionally grown for marking boundaries and medicinal uses.
13. Mulch Material: Provides organic matter for use as mulch.
14. Biocidal Potential: Extracts may serve as biocides, killing troublesome weeds.
15. Paper Production: Stems used for paper pulp suitable for writing and printing.
16. Rubber Substitute: Roots contain substances possibly useful for rubber.
17. Firewood Source: Twigs and stems are used as fuel for cooking and heating.
18. Construction Material: Stalks used in furniture construction.
19. Butterfly Attraction: Attracts butterflies, used in butterfly gardens.
20. Ornamental Use: Grown for ornamental purposes due to longevity without water and resistance to pests.

In Madagascar, it’s a ruderal plant found throughout, from semi-arid regions to sunny savannahs. In Mauritius, it naturalizes, forming extensive stands in rocky areas. In Reunion, it’s ubiquitous and quick to colonize openings, showing high drought tolerance.

In Seychelles, it appears as a ruderal species in forest edges and fallow lands.

1. Versatile Environments: Lantana camara thrives in diverse habitats, including agricultural areas, forest margins, riparian zones, grasslands, secondary forests, and beach fronts.
2. Forest Edge Preference: Typically found at the forest edge rather than deep within natural or semi-natural forest areas due to its shade intolerance.
3. Limited Presence in Forests: Rarely found in natural or semi-natural forest interiors as it can’t compete with taller trees.
4. Climate Adaptability: Survives in a broad range of climatic conditions, demonstrating resilience to drought, varying soil types, heat, humidity, and salt.
5. Fire Tolerance: Shows relative tolerance to fire, quickly establishing itself in areas recently burnt in forested regions.
6. Cosmopolitan Habitat: Has a cosmopolitan distribution, being a widespread and aggressive invasive weed.
7. Invasion of Cultivated Fields: Acts as an aggressive invasive weed in cultivated fields and disturbed ground.
8. Hill and Plain Presence: Extends its presence from plains to hills, covering a wide range of elevations.
9. Native and Naturalized Regions: Native to tropical America, it has become widely naturalized in tropics and subtropics globally.
10. Global Distribution: Found in various countries across Asia, Africa, Australasia, Europe, and the Americas.
11. Local Distribution in India: Spreads across several states in India, including Assam, Bihar, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu.
12. Specific Indian Plains: Locally distributed in the plains of Assam and other regions like Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and more.
13. Aggressive Weed: Recognized as one of the most aggressive weeds of disturbed ground.
14. Tropical and Subtropical Presence: Flourishes in tropical and subtropical climates, adapting well to various ecosystems.
15. Global Spread: Found in diverse continents, including Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Australasia, showcasing its global invasive nature.

1. Tea Production: Aromatic leaves utilized to make flavorful tea.
2. Edible Fruit: Ripe black fruits consumed as a sweet snack.
3. Medicinal Applications: Essential oils from leaves and flowers possess antimicrobial, fungicidal, and insecticidal properties.
4. Traditional Herbal Medicine: Used for treating flu, cough, skin issues, and rheumatic joints.
5. Root Decoction: Employed to address influenza, fever, dental problems, and various ailments.
6. Haemostatic Flowers: Flowers used in treating bleeding conditions.
7. Agroforestry Pioneer: Assists rainforest tree growth and aids erosion control.
8. Living Fences: Traditionally grown for marking boundaries with medicinal uses.
9. Mulch Material: Provides organic matter for use as mulch in agriculture.
10. Biocidal Potential: Extracts suggested for biocidal use, killing troublesome weeds in water bodies.

• Assamese: Gubon, Gu-phul
• English: Common Lantana, Lantana, Lantana weed, Wild sage
• Hin: Caturang
• Hindi: Raimuniya
• Irula: Nandhana chedi, Paralai chedi, Unni chedi
• Kannada: Aripu, Rozagida
• Khasi: Dieng-sohpangkhlieh
• Malayalam: Arippoo, Kongini, Konkini, Unni Chedi
• Other: Unni Chedi
• Sanskrit: Vanacchedi
• Tamil: Arasimala, Unni Chedi

Source – https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/32676

1. Listing by IUCN: The plant is prominently featured in the IUCN’s “List of the world’s 100 worst invasive species,” underscoring the global recognition of its invasive nature.
2. Wide Dispersal Range: Lantana camara benefits from a wide dispersal range facilitated by birds and other animals that consume its toxic drupes, enabling the plant to spread rapidly over various landscapes.
3. Toxicity as a Defense: The plant’s toxicity serves as a natural defense mechanism, making it less prone to being eaten by animals. This resilience enhances its survival and propagation.
4. Environmental Adaptability: Lantana camara exhibits remarkable adaptability to a diverse range of environmental conditions, allowing it to thrive in disturbed habitats resulting from activities like logging and habitat modification.
5. Inhibition of Competing Species: The production of toxic chemicals by Lantana camara inhibits the growth of competing plant species. This competitive advantage allows it to dominate understorey shrub layers, crowding out native vegetation and reducing overall biodiversity.
6. High Seed Production: The plant’s extraordinarily high seed production capability, with each plant capable of producing up to 12,000 seeds annually, contributes significantly to its rapid and extensive spread.
7. Ecological Threats: Lantana camara poses substantial ecological threats, such as altering fire patterns in forest ecosystems, impeding the regeneration of forests by preventing new tree growth, and negatively impacting pasture productivity through the formation of dense thickets.

30 key Facts about Lantana Camara

FAQs on Lantana Camara – Lantana Camara UPSC Questions