Documentation of Invasive Plant Species in Latehar and Hazaribagh Districts: Jharkhand - India

The survey was undertaken to document the alien invasive flora present in different ecosystems during November 2010 to February 2011 in Latehar and Hazaribagh districts of Jharkhand. A total of 41 invasive alien species was documented in the selected forests and non-forest areas. Among invasive alien species, major potential threat in the near future is by Lantana camara, Argemone mexicana, Eupatorium odoratum and Hyptis suaveolens . Lantana camara was highest in open forest with density of 2917/ha and frequency 47.62 % compared to dense forest with density of 42.5/ha and frequency 50 % in Latehar forest. Whereas in Hazaribagh forests the density of Lantana camara was higher than Latehar forests with 3535/ha in open forest and 177/ha in dense forest. In Agricultural land Celosia argentea, Argemone mexicana, Cassia tora, Eclipta prostrata, Emilia sonchifolia, Evolvulus nummularious, Oxalis corniculata, Portulaca oleracea, Scoparia dulcis, Sonchus oleraceous , and Tridax procumbens are found thorugh out Hazaribagh and Latehar districts. Eichornia cressipeswas major invasive species found in pond ecosystem.