A Survey of Invasive and Exotic Plant Species of Lahore City, Pakistan
A Survey of Invasive and Exotic Plant Species of Lahore City, Pakistan
ARIFA ZEREEN & ALMAS JAHAN
ABSTRACT
Lahore city had a well-established plant cover. In order to meet the needs of increasing population, the infrastructure such as new residential colonies, roads etc. had to be developed which seriously affected indigenous plant communities. This has caused destruction of local vegetation growing there and exposed land for colonization of invasive and exotic plant species. Besides this many exotic species have been planted as ornamental plants at the green belts. With the passage of time the exotic plant species also called Invasive Alien Species (IAS) is going to be a serious threat to local ecosystems. This research work was planned to determine the harmful and significant effects of exotic plants on local flora. Fourteen species of exotic and invasive plants viz., Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., Populus deltoids W. Bartram ex Marshall, Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC., Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent, Lantana camara L., Cannabis sativa L., Parthenium hysterophorus L., Xanthium strumarium L., Alternanthera pungens Kunth, Trianthema portulacastrum L., Pistia stratiotes (Sw.) DC., Phragmites australis Adans., Eichhornia crassipes (C.Martius) Solms Loub. and Portulaca oleracea L. were identified in the selected area. Information regarding the family, habit and nativity of the species was also compiled. These species not only reduce the land value and crop yield but are also hazardous for humans e.g., cause allergies, itching, drowsiness, insensibility etc. Effective planning is required for timely detection in order to check and control the spread of new acclimatized exotics.
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