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Study of invasive plants in tropical dry deciduous forests – biological spectrum, phenology, and diversity

Himanshi Dhiman
Himanshi Dhiman
, 
Harikesh Saharan
Harikesh Saharan
 and 
Somveer Jakhar
Somveer Jakhar
   | Dec 01, 2021
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Article Category: Research paper
Published Online: Dec 01, 2021
Page range: 58 - 71
Received: May 12, 2021
Accepted: Sep 03, 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fsmu-2021-0004
© 2021 by the authors., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Figure 1.

Location of plots studied in the forests of Morni Hills, Haryana (India).
Location of plots studied in the forests of Morni Hills, Haryana (India).

Figure 2.

Climograph showing the monthly average temperature and rainfall of Morni Hills, Panchkula (Source: www.worldweatheronline.com).
Climograph showing the monthly average temperature and rainfall of Morni Hills, Panchkula (Source: www.worldweatheronline.com).

Figure 3.

Variation of invasive alien plant species along an altitudinal gradient in the forests of Morni Hills, Panchkula.
Variation of invasive alien plant species along an altitudinal gradient in the forests of Morni Hills, Panchkula.

Figure 4.

Species–family relationship of Invasive alien flora encountered during the study.
Species–family relationship of Invasive alien flora encountered during the study.

Figure 5.

Dendrogram showing the hierarchical clustering of flowering phenology of invasive alien plant species documented on the present study site.
Dendrogram showing the hierarchical clustering of flowering phenology of invasive alien plant species documented on the present study site.

Figure 6.

Heatmap showing the Pearson Correlation of the various ecological parameters taken under study.
Heatmap showing the Pearson Correlation of the various ecological parameters taken under study.

Summary of invasive alien plant species encountered during the study.

S.N. Name Family Habit Nativity Longevity FloweringPhenology
1 Ageratum conyzoides L. Asteraceae Herb Tropical America Annual Dec-May
2 Ageratum houstonianum Mill. Asteraceae Herb Tropical America Annual May-Nov
3 Alternanthera pungens Kunth Amaranthaceae Herb Tropical America Perennial Mar-Oct
4 Argemone mexicana L. Papaveraceae Herb Tropical southAmerica Annual Jan-Dec
5 Bidena pilosa L. Asteraceae Herb Tropical America Annual Jan-Dec
6 Cardamine hirsuta L. Asteraceae Herb Tropical America Annual Mar-Sept
7 Cassia occidentalis L. Caesalpiniaceae Shrub Tropical southAmerica Annual Jan-Dec
8 Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br. Asclepiadaceae Shrub Tropical Africa Perennial Jan-Dec
9 Celosia argentea L. Amaranthaceae Herb Tropical Africa Annual Sept-Jan
10 Chromolaena odorata (L.)R.M. King & H. Rob. Asteraceae Herb Tropical America Perennial Dec-Mar
11 Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. Asteraceae Herb Europe Annual Mar-Aug
12 Croton bonplandianum Baill. Euphorbiaceae Herb Temperate south America Annual Jan-Dec
13 Echinochloa colona (L.) Link. Poaceae Herb Tropical southAmerica Annual Jun-Sept
14 Emilia sonchifolia (L.) Asteraceae Herb Tropical America Annual Jul-Oct
15 Euphorbia heterophylla L. Euphorbiaceae Herb Tropical America Annual Sept-Mar
16 Indigofera linnifolia (L.f.)Retz. Paplionaceae Herb Tropical Africa Perennial May-Oct
17 Ipomoea carnea Jacq. Convolvulaceae Shrub Tropical America Perennial Jan-Dec
18 Ipomoea quamoclit L. Convolvulaceae Climber Tropical America Annual Jun-Oct
19 Lantana camara L. Verbenaceae Herb Tropical America Perennial Jan-Dec
20 Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R. Br. Lamiaceae Herb Tropical America Annual Sept-Nov
21 Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit Mimosaceae Tree Tropical America Perennial Apr-Jul
22 Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Garcke Malvaceae Herb Tropical America Annual Oct-Apr
23 Martynia annua L. Pedaliaceae Herb Tropical America Annual Jul-Oct
24 Oxalis corniculata L. Oxalidaceae Herb Europe Perennial Feb-Oct
25 Parthenium hysterophorus L. Asteraceae Herb Tropical northAmerica Annual Oct-Mar
26 Peristrophe bicalyculata (Retz.) Nees Acanthaceae Herb Tropical Africa Perennial Sept-Jan
27 Sida acuta Burm f. Malvaceae Herb Tropical America Perennial Sept-May
28 Sonchus oleraceous L. Asteraceae Herb Mediterranean Annual Mar-Nov
29 Tridax procumbens L. Asteraceae Herb Tropical centralAmerica Annual Jan-Dec
30 Urena lobata L. Malvaceae Shrub Tropical America Perennial Feb-Oct
31 Xanthium strumarium L. Asteraceae Herb Tropical America Annual Aug-Sept

Phytosociology of invasive plant species encountered from 800–1000m AMSL (Range 3).

S.N. NAME F D BA IVI H’ Cd
1 Ageratum conyzoides L. 16 13 0.00078 6.09844 0.10686 0.00041
2 Ageratum houstonianum Mill. 16 51.64 0.00145 12.3487 0.22044 0.00171
3 Bidena pilosa L. 16 10.64 0.00072 5.71551 0.09853 0.00036
4 Boehmeria macrophylla (Thunb.)Hornem. 16 2.32 0.21657 15.2191 0.26305 0.00442
5 Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H. Rob. 16 89.32 0.00678 18.6790 0.30901 0.00396
6 Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. 25 15 0.00093 8.65901 0.13139 0.00084
7 Ipomoea carnea Jacq. 16 16 0.04195 8.64880 0.15758 0.00103
8 Lantana camara L. 83 73.64 1.70715 118.181 0.67004 0.26830
9 Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.)Garcke 33 20.32 0.00103 11.5036 0.16115 0.00148
10 Oxalis corniculata L. 75 240.32 0.00528 57.5282 0.53101 0.03706
11 Parthenium hysterophorus L. 83 82.32 0.00806 34.2300 0.34643 0.01321
12 Sonchus oleraceous L. 8.3 7 0.00008 3.18831 0.06541 0.00011
13 Urena lobata L. 16 4.54 0.0006 4.57218 0.07431 0.00023
Total 419.3 626.06 1.9914 300 3.11860 0.32753

Phytosociology of invasive plant species encountered at >1000m AMSL (Range 4).

S.N. NAME F D BA IVI H’ Cd
1 Ageratum conyzoides L. 41 11.64 0.00107 10.33411 0.15129 0.001193
2 Ageratum houstonianum Mill. 50 22.32 0.00066 14.76674 0.20840 0.002433
3 Bidena pilosa L. 50 34 0.00335 17.95162 0.25468 0.003606
4 Cardamine hirsuta L. 16 7.64 0.00018 4.858068 0.09495 0.000263
5 Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H. Rob. 50 84.32 0.01354 31.64427 0.40873 0.01126
6 Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. 25 5.32 0.00081 5.828146 0.09551 0.00038
7 Lantana camara L. 91 86.64 4.87483 138.601 0.67241 0.367264
8 Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.)Garcke 58 23 0.00079 16.35513 0.21853 0.002985
9 Oxalis corniculata L. 66 22 0.00262 17.52797 0.22224 0.003435
10 Parthenium hysterophorus L. 66 49.64 0.00409 24.96496 0.31784 0.00697
11 Sonchus oleraceous L. 41 23.32 0.00062 13.45496 0.20403 0.00202
12 Urena lobata L. 16 3.32 0.0008 3.713032 0.06762 0.000154
Total 570 373.16 4.90336 300 2.91626 0.401966

Phytosociology of invasive plant species encountered from 600–800m AMSL (Range 2).

S.N. NAME F D BA IVI H’ Cd
1 Ageratum conyzoides L. 66.6 84.32 0.0103 17.4961 0.24433 0.00344
2 Ageratum houstonianum Mill. 58.3 76.32 0.00691 15.5278 0.22705 0.00270
3 Alternanthera pungens Kunth 16.6 5.32 0.00006 2.80783 0.05174 0.00008
4 Bidena pilosa L. 41.6 49 0.00533 10.5581 0.17147 0.00125
5 Celosia argentea L. 8.3 5.32 0.00028 1.66458 0.03779 0.00003
6 Croton bonpandlianum Baill. 16.6 10.64 0.00029 3.32528 0.06539 0.00012
7 Euphorbia heterophylla L. 16.6 12 0.00099 3.46679 0.06900 0.00013
8 Ipomoea carnea Jacq. 16.6 9.32 0.01143 3.35802 0.06623 0.00013
9 Ipomoea quamoclit L. 16.6 1.32 0.00008 2.42154 0.04096 0.00006
10 Indigofera linnifolia (L.f.) Retz. 25 5.64 0.00006 3.99897 0.06541 0.00017
11 Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit 25 3.32 1.6503 27.5216 0.41079 0.01570
12 Lantana camara L. 100 189.64 4.8336 101.695 0.68362 0.19388
13 Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R. Br. 50 23 0.3643 14.3711 0.22116 0.00314
14 Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Garcke 41.6 60 0.00261 11.5820 0.18894 0.0015
15 Oxalis corniculata L. 41.6 112.64 0.00084 16.6439 0.26548 0.00309
16 Parthenium hysterophorus L. 91.6 312 0.05954 43.6618 0.47971 0.02166
17 Peristrophe bicalyculata 16.6 6.64 0.00011 2.93612 0.05520 0.00009
18 Sida acuta L. 25 53 0.00075 8.58599 0.16250 0.00082
19 Cassia occidentalis L. 16.6 5.32 0.00076 2.81790 0.05201 0.00008
20 Urena lobata L. 16.6 7.64 0.00038 3.03665 0.05788 0.00010
21 Xanthium strumarium L. 16.6 2.32 0.00036 2.52221 0.04383 0.00007
Total 724 1034.72 6.94928 300 3.66058 0.24832

Phytosociology of invasive plant species encountered from 400–600m AMSL (Range 1).

S.N. NAME F D BA IVI H’ Cd
1 Ageratum conyzoides L. 33.3 32.32 0.00394 10.1166 0.15448 0.00115
2 Argemone mexicana L. 8.3 4 0.00046 2.07456 0.04168 0.00004
3 Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br. 16.6 12.32 0.04708 5.81129 0.10980 0.00045
4 Celosia argentea L. 8.3 2.64 0.00022 1.92299 0.03721 0.00004
5 Croton bonpandlianum Baill. 16.6 68.32 0.00355 10.6636 0.20085 0.00127
6 Echinocloa colona (L.) Link. 25 12.32 0.00019 6.24665 0.09767 0.00043
7 Euphorbia heterophylla L. 16.6 8.32 0.00113 4.18879 0.07271 0.00019
8 Indigofera linnifolia (L.f.) Retz. 16.6 39.32 0.00053 7.48600 0.14396 0.00062
9 Ipomoea carnea Jacq. 16.6 13 0.01592 5.07357 0.09351 0.00031
10 Lantana camara L. 83.3 102.64 2.51676 92.8332 0.66177 0.16358
11 Lucaenea leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit 33.3 3.32 0.53093 20.7231 0.31077 0.00796
12 Martynia annua L. 16.6 23.64 0.00513 5.92999 0.11234 0.00040
13 Oxalis corniculata L. 25 51.32 0.00046 10.4214 0.17827 0.00121
14 Parthenium hysterophorus L. 91.6 366.32 0.69915 75.3754 0.61101 0.07856
15 Peristrophe bicalyculata (Retz.) Nees 25 34 0.00392 8.66049 0.14647 0.00084
16 Cassia occidentalis L. 25 9 0.00415 5.99485 0.09214 0.00040
17 Sida acuta L. 16.6 105 0.00162 14.5332 0.26031 0.00236
18 Urena lobata L. 8.3 2.32 0.00044 1.89451 0.03636 0.00004
19 Xanthium strumarium L. 25 45.64 0.0095 10.0495 0.17178 0.00115
Total 507.6 935.76 3.84508 300 3.53318 0.26108
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