Allelopathic plants. 10. Lantana camara L.

Abstract

Lantana camara L. is an introduced weed in the tropics and subtropies and infests 14 crops in 47 countries. It invades forests, riverbanks, roadsides, pastures, agricultural lands and disturbed ecosystems. Being an invasion interrupts regeneration process and reduces biodiversity of natural ecosystems. It has hundreds of cultivars and hybrids. It has about 15 varieties. Lantana and other alien species have caused the extinction of 58 native plant species in the Cape Floristic Kingdom and have contributed to the endangered status of more than 3435 other plants in South Africa. Its leaves, roots and fruits contain allelochemicals mainly aromatic alkaloids and phenolics. These allelochemicals promote or inhibit the crop growth based on their concentration and are species specific. It also produces volatile allelochemicals from its leaves. It is toxic to grazing animals and has adverse effects on humans. This specie also has medicinal, herbicidal and fungistatic activity.