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NEWSLETTER
Vol. 11, No. 4, 2013-14
vironmen
En
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INDIA
EDITORIAL
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) defines alien invasive species as organisms that become established in
native ecosystems or habitats, proliferate, alter, and threaten native biodiversity. These aliens come in the form
of plants, animals and microbes that have been introduced into an area from other parts of the world, and have
been able to displace indigenous species. Invasive alien species are emerging as one of the major threats to
sustainable development, on a par with global warming and the destruction of life-support systems. Increased
mobility and human interaction have been key drivers in the spread of Indigenous Alien Species.
Invasion by alien species is a global phenomenon, with threatening negative impacts to the indigenous
biological diversity as well as related negative impacts on human health and overall his well-being. Thus,
threatening the ecosystems on the earth.
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) found that trends in species introductions, as well as modelling
predictions, strongly suggest that biological invasions will continue to increase in number and impact. An
additional concern is that multiple human impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems will decrease the natural
biotic resistance to invasions and, therefore, the number of biotic communities dominated by invasive species
will increase.
India one of the 17 "megadiverse" countries and is composed of a diversity of ecological habitats like forests,
grasslands, wetlands, coastal and marine ecosystems, and desert ecosystems have been reported with 40
percent of alien flora species and 25 percent out of them invasive by National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resource.
In India, invasive plants infest extensive tracts of agricultural and forest land. Various aspects of control of alien
weeds and pests are being dealt with by a number of authorities. Insight to above views and identifying the
array of effects that invasive alien species have, the present issue of Newsletter deliberates upon the Invasive
Alien Plant Species. Based on the available databases and some regional reports, most of the invasive plants,
irrespective of their origin, belong to the family Asteraceae, while families such as Poaceae, Solanaceae and
Fabaceae also predominate. Further, invasive plants belong to a variety of life forms as herbs, shrubs, trees,
climbers/vines, grasses and aquatic plants. The most important invasive plants that have created havoc in a
number of habitats include terrestrial herbaceous weeds (e.g. Ageratum conyzoides and Parthenium
hyterophorus), shrubs (e.g. Lantana camara and Chromolaena odorata) trees (e.g. Proposis juliflora and
Leucaena leucocephala), vines (e.g. Mikania micarantha) and aquatic plants (e.g. Eichhornia crassipes).
The present article documents the four major invasive alien plant species in Punjab namely, Lantana camara,
Parthenium hyterophorus, Ageratum conyzoides and Eichhonia crassipes. It is hoped that this inventory and
assessment of alien flora will help in designing informed management and monitoring strategies against
problematic plant invasions in the state.
Published by
Editorial Team
Acknowledgment
Sponsored by
Ministry of Environment & Forests,
Government of India
ENVIS Centre, PSCST as a partner in Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) Chandigarh on Education for
Sustainable Development (ESD) endeavors to promote the prevention and control of invasive alien
plant species in the region for conservation of the Biological resources Sustainable Development.
2
Introduction
During evolution the natural bio-geographical barriers
of oceans, mountains, rivers and deserts provided the
isolation essential for unique species and ecosystems
to evolve. But, colonization of Africa and Asia by the
European powers between the 15th and 19th centuries
led to an exponential increase in the movement of
organisms both plants and animals from one part of
the world to another through trade, transport, travel
and tourism. During this period many plant species
have been either accidentally or deliberately
translocated far from their native areas (Khuroo et, al.
2007).These plant species that move from one
geographical region to the other, establish and
proliferate there and threaten native ecosystem,
habitats and species are known as invasive alien plants
(Pysek et al. 2004). The invasive plants are also known
as alien, exotic or introduced ones, which are new to a
specific area, become dominant, replacing /
substituting the native plant species. The definition of
invasive alien species, however, in the context of the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), is given in
Box 1. Colonial invasions have brought in a number
of invasive alien species into the India subcontinent
that has transformed native landscapes.
Box 2. Naturalization
Chromolaena odorata
(Siam Weed, Christmas Bush, Devil Weed,
Camfhur Grass & Common Floss Flower)
Lantana camara
(Big Sage, Wild Sage, Red Sage,
White Sage & Tickberry)
Mikania micrantha
Bitter Vine or Climbing Hemp Vine or
American Rope & Mile-a-Minute Vine
Mimosa diplotricha
(Giant Sensitive Plant & Nila Grass)
Saccharum spontaneum
()
Salvinia molesta
()
Typha angustata
()
Ipomoea Canea
()
5
Chromolaena odorata
()
Proposis juliflora
()
Leucaena leucocephala
()
Control Measures
Presently the following species specific methods are
being employed for prevention and control of weeds:
Mechanical: Mechanical control involves hoes,
cultivators, harrows, rotary weeders, discs, ploughs,
scythes, mowers and manual uprooting. The weeds
are physically lifted from the soil, cut off or buried. In
most of the forestry operations the invasive such as
Lantana, Eupatorium, Mikania, etc. are uprooted
manually and either burnt or buried. In some places,
those are being used for making compost.
Chemical: This is one of the most common methods
employed for control of invasives. Most chemicals are
species specific though their use is not always
desirable due to environmental degradation and
pollution that they often cause and their effects on
other useful species.
Tillage: Tillage helps in the burial of most small annual
weeds. If all growing points are buried, most annual
weeds will be killed. Tillage also disturbs the rooting
system of most of the perennial weeds. The root
system is cut to enough depth so that the plant dies
from desiccation before it can re-establish its roots. In
moist soils or if it rains soon after tillage, the roots may
quickly re-establish themselves. In effect one may
transplant the weed with little or no injury. Mowing is
Ricinus communis
Chenopodium ambrosioides
Bidens pilosa
Cassia occidentalis
10
Ageratum conyzoides
(Billy goat weed, Chicle weed, Goat weed, white weed)
13
Species
Family
Habit
Nativity
Mimosacceae
Tree
Mimosacceae
Tree
Asteraceae
Herb
Brazil
Amaranthaceae
Herb
Trop. America
Aeschynomene americana L.
Papilionaceae
Herb
Trop. America
Asteraceae
Herb
Trop. America
Ageratum conyzoides L.
Asteraceae
Herb
Trop. America
Asteraceae
Herb
Trop. America
Amaranthaceae
Herb
Trop. America
10
Amaranthaceae
Herb
Trop. America
11
Amaranthaceae
Herb
Trop. America
12
Amaranthaceae
Herb
Trop. America
13
Polygonaceae
Climber
Trop. America
14
Argemone mexicana L.
Papaveraceae
Herb
15
Asclepias curassavica L.
Asclepiadaceae
Herb
Trop. America
16
Liliaceae
Herb
Trop. America
17
Bidens pilosa L.
Asteraceae
Herb
Trop. America
18
Asteraceae
Herb
Trop. America
19
Blumea erianthaDC.
Asteraceae
Herb
Trop. America
20
Asteraceae
Herb
Trop. America
21
Asteraceae
Herb
Trop. America
22
Borassus flabellifer L.
Asteraceae
Tree
Trop. Africa
23
Asclepiadaceae
Shrub
Trop. Africa
24
Asclepiadaceae
Shrub
Trop. Africa
25
Cardamine hirsuta L.
Brassicaceae
Herb
Trop. America
26
Brassicaceae
Herb
Trop. America
27
Cassia absus L.
Caesalpiniaceae
Herb
Trop. America
28
Cassia alata L.
Caesalpiniaceae
Shrub
West Indies
29
Cassia hirsuta L.
Caesalpiniaceae
Herb
Trop. America
30
Cassia obtusifolia L.
Caesalpiniaceae
Herb
Trop. America
31
Cassia occidentalis L.
Caesalpiniaceae
Herb
32
Caesalpiniaceae
Herb
Trop. America
33
Caesalpiniaceae
Herb
34
Cassia tora L.
Caesalpiniaceae
Herb
35
Caesalpiniaceae
Herb
36
Apocynaceae
Herb
Trop. America
37
Celosia argentea L.
Amaranthaceae
Herb
Trop. Africa
38
Euphorbiaceae
Herb
Trop. America
39
Euphorbiaceae
Herb
40
Poaceae
Herb
Trop. America
41
Asteraceae
Herb
Trop. America
42
Euphorbiaceae
Herb
Trop. Africa
14
Sl. No.
Species
Family
Habit
Nativity
43
Cleome gynandra L.
Cleomaceae
Herb
Trop. America
44
Cleome monophylla L.
Cleomaceae
Herb
Trop. Africa
45
Cleomaceae
Herb
Trop. America
46
Cleome viscosa L.
Cleomaceae
Herb
Trop. America
47
Melastomataceae
Herb
Trop. America
48
Asteraceae
Herb
Trop. America
49
Corchorus aestuans L.
Tiliaceae
Herb
Trop. America
50
Tiliaceae
Herb
Trop. America
51
Corchorus tridens L.
Tiliaceae
Herb
Trop. Africa
52
Corchorus trilocularis L.
Tiliaceae
Herb
Trop. Africa
53
Asteraceae
Herb
Trop. America
54
Papilionaceae
Herb
Trop. America
55
Crotalaria retusa L.
Papilionaceae
Herb
Trop. America
56
Euphorbiaceae
Herb
Temperate
South America
57
Asclepiadaceae
Herb
Madagascar
58
Cuscutaceae
Herb
Mediterranean
59
Cuscutaceae
Herb
Mediterranean
60
Cyperus difformis L.
Cyperaceae
Herb
Trop. America
61
Cyperus iria L.
Cyperaceae
Herb
Trop. America
62
Papilionaceae
Herb
Europe
63
Solanaceae
Shrub
Trop. America
64
Datura metel L.
Solanaceae
Shrub
Trop. America
65
Asteraceae
Herb
Trop. Africa
66
Amaranthaceae
Herb
SW Asia
67
Poaceae
Herb
Trop. America
68
Poaceae
Herb
69
Poaceae
Herb
70
Asteraceae
Herb
Afghanistan
71
Asteraceae
Herb
Trop. America
72
Pontederiaceae
Herb
Trop. America
73
Asteraceae
Herb
Trop. America
74
Euphorbiaceae
Herb
Trop. America
75
Euphorbia heterophylla L.
Convolvulaceae
Herb
Trop. America
76
Convolvulaceae
Herb
Trop. America
77
Asteraceae
Herb
78
Cyperaceae
Herb
Trop. America
79
Asteraceae
Herb
Trop. America
80
Asteraceae
Herb
East Indies
81
Asteraceae
Herb
Trop. America
82
Asteraceae
Herb
Trop. America
83
Asteraceae
Herb
Trop. America
84
Gomphrena serrata L.
Amaranthaceae
Herb
Trop. America
85
Asteraceae
Herb
15
Sl. No.
Species
Family
Habit
Nativity
86
Lamiaceae
Herb
Trop. America
87
Impatiens balsamina L.
Balsaminaceae
Herb
Trop. America
88
Poaceae
Herb
Trop. America
89
Papilionaceae
Herb
Trop. America
90
Papilionaceae
Herb
Trop. America
91
Papilionaceae
Herb
92
Papilionaceae
Herb
Trop. Africa
93
Papilionaceae
Shrub
Trop. Africa
94
Convolvulaceae
Shrub
Trop. America
95
Convolvulaceae
Herb
Trop. Africa
96
Ipomoea hederifolia L.
Convolvulaceae
Herb
Trop. America
97
Convolvulaceae
Herb
Trop. Africa
98
Ipomoea pes-tigridis L.
Convolvulaceae
Herb
99
Ipomoea quamoclit L.
Convolvulaceae
Herb
Trop. America
100
Convolvulaceae
Herb
Trop. Africa
101
Asteraceae
Herb
102
Lantana camara L.
Verbenaceae
Herb
Trop. America
103
Lamiaceae
Herb
Trop. Africa
104
Mimosacceae
Herb
Trop. America
105
Onagraceae
Herb
Trop. America
106
Onagraceae
Herb
Trop. Africa
107
Ludwigia perennis L.
Onagraceae
Herb
Trop. Africa
108
Papilionaceae
Climber
Trop. America
109
Papilionaceae
Climber
110
Malvaceae
Herb
Trop. America
111
Malvaceae
Herb
Trop. America
112
Pedaliaceae
Herb
Trop. America
113
Scrophulariaceae
Herb
114
Papilionaceae
Herb
Europe
115
Melochia corchorifolia L.
Sterculiaceae
Herb
Trop. America
116
Convolvulaceae
Herb
Trop. America
117
Asteraceae
Climber
Trop. America
118
Mimosa pigra L.
Mimosacceae
Shrub
119
Mimosa pudica L.
Mimosacceae
Herb
Brazil
120
Mirabilis jalapa L.
Nyctaginaceae
Herb
Peru
121
Pontederiaceae
Herb
Trop. America
122
Solanaceae
Herb
Trop. America
123
Ocimum americanum L.
Lamiaceae
Herb
Trop. America
124
Cactaceae
Herb
Trop. America
125
Oxalis corniculata L.
Oxalidaceae
Herb
Europe
126
Parthenium hysterophorus L.
Asteraceae
Herb
127
Passiflora foetida L.
Passifloraceae
Herb
128
Pedalium murex L.
Pedaliaceae
Herb
Trop. America
129
Poaceae
Herb
Trop. America
16
Sl. No.
Species
Family
Habit
Nativity
130
Piperaceae
Herb
131
Acanthaceae
Herb
Trop. America
132
Euphorbiaceae
Herb
Mascarene Islands
133
Physalis angulata L.
Solanaceae
Herb
Trop. America
134
Physalis pruinosa L.
Solanaceae
Herb
Trop. America
135
Urticaceae
Herb
136
Pistia stratiotes L.
Araceae
Herb
Trop. America
137
Portulaca oleracea L.
Portulacaceae
Herb
138
Portulaca quadrifida L.
Portulacaceae
Herb
Trop. America
139
Mimosacceae
Shrub
Mexico
140
Poaceae
Herb
Trop. America
141
Brassicaceae
Herb
Trop. America
142
Ruellia tuberosa L.
Acanthaceae
Herb
Trop. America
143
Saccharum spontaneum L.
Poaceae
Herb
144
Salviniaceae
Herb
Brazil
145
Scoparia dulcis L.
Scrophulariaceae
Herb
Trop. America
146
Papilionaceae
Shrub
Trop. America
147
Malvaceae
Herb
Trop. America
148
Solanaceae
Herb
Trop. America
149
Solanaceae
Climber
Brazil
150
Solanaceae
Shrub
West Indies
151
Solanaceae
Herb
Trop. America
152
Asteraceae
Herb
Mediterranean
153
Sonchus oleraceus L.
Asteraceae
Herb
Mediterranean
154
Spermacoce hispida L.
Rubiaceae
Herb
Trop. America
155
Asteraceae
Herb
156
Verbenaceae
Herb
Trop. America
157
Verbenaceae
Herb
Trop. America
158
Papilionaceae
Herb
Trop. America
159
Euphorbiaceae
Shrub
Trop. America
160
Asteraceae
Herb
West Indies
161
Scrophulariaceae
Herb
Australia
162
Tribulus lanuginosus L.
Zygophyllaceae
Herb
Trop. America
163
Tribulus terrestris L.
Zygophyllaceae
Herb
Trop. America
164
Tridax procumbens L.
Asteraceae
Herb
165
Tiliaceae
Herb
Trop. America
166
Turneraceae
Herb
Trop. America
167
Turnera ulmifolia L.
Turneraceae
Herb
Trop. America
168
Typhaceae
Herb
Trop. America
169
Ulex europaeus L.
Papilionaceae
Shrub
Western Europe
170
Urena lobata L.
Malvaceae
Shrub
Trop. Africa
171
Waltheria indica L.
Sterculiaceae
Herb
Trop. America
172
Xanthium strumarium L.
Asteraceae
Herb
Trop. America
173
Asteraceae
Herb
17
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