Central Idea

In an exhibition in Bengaluru, sculptures of elephants made from Lantana camara gained popular attraction.

About Lantana Camara

Lantana camara, commonly known as lantana, belongs to the verbena family (Verbenaceae) and originates from the American tropics.
Lantana was introduced to India in the early 19th century as an ornamental plant during the British colonial period. Its colorful flowers made it popular in gardens.
This shrub has the ability to spread across forest floors, climb like a creeper over trees, and easily intertwine with native vegetation.
Lantana is highly adaptable, thriving in diverse ecosystems.

Lantana’s invasive nature poses a serious threat to native flora and fauna. It competes with native plants for resources, often leading to a reduction in native biodiversity.
It forms dense thickets that alter the structure of habitats that impede the movement of animals and change the microhabitat conditions, such as light availability and soil composition.
It can invade agricultural land, reducing crop yields, and can also infest pastures, impacting grazing for livestock.
It is toxic to livestock and can cause health issues if ingested. This adds to the economic burden for farmers who need to ensure their animals do not graze on lantana-infested land.
The plant increases the risk of fire in the ecosystems it invades because it forms dense thickets that can easily catch and spread fire.