Lantana Camara

Context: Weeding out the invasive tropical American shrub, Lantana camara, appears to alter the composition of bird species in a forest, according to a new study conducted in Central India.

About Lantana Camera:

• Lantana camara (common lantana) is a species of flowering plant within the verbena family (Verbenaceae), native to the American tropics.
• Lantanas arrived in India as a decorative shrub during British colonial period but quickly took over several ecosystems as an invasive plant.
• The shrub can spread on the forest ground, climb over trees a creeper and entangle with other native plants with ease.
• It is a very adaptable species, which can inhabit a wide variety of ecosystems.
• Once it has been introduced into a habitat it spreads rapidly between 45ºN and 45ºS and more than 1,400 metres (4,600 feet) in altitude.

MUST READ: Invasive Species

Source:  DownToEarth

Previous Year Questions

Q.1) Among the following crops, which one is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide ? (2022)

1. Cotton
2. Rice
3. Sugarcane
4. Wheat

Q.2) If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication? (2020)

1. A licence is required to cultivate that plant
2. Such a plant cannot be cultivated under any circumstances
3. It is a Genetically Modified crop plant
4. Such a plant is invasive and harmful to the ecosystem