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CHECKLIST OF INVASIVE PLANTS OF GUJARAT AND SOME MOST INSIDIOUS

PLANTS OF GUJARAT, THEIR HAZARDS, ITS MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC
PERSPECTIVE

Article · June 2018

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CHECKLIST OF INVASIVE PLANTS OF GUJARAT AND

SOME MOST INSIDIOUS PLANTS OF GUJARAT, THEIR
HAZARDS, ITS MANAGEMENT AND
PUBLIC PERSPECTIVE
Universal Impact Factor
2012:0.9285;
2013:1.2210
DR. HITESHKUMAR A. SOLANKI
PROFESSOR AND HEAD, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE,
Index Copernicus Value
2011:5.09, 2012:6.42, DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY, BIOINFORMATICS AND
2013:15.8, 2014:89.16,
2015:78.30, 2016:91 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS MANAGEMENT,

NAAS Rating UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF SCIENCES,

2012:1.3; 2013-16: 2.69 GUJARAT UNIVERSITY, AHMEDABAD - 380 009.
2017-18: 3.98
Corresponding author’s e-mail: husolanki@yahoo.com
SJIF
2012: 3.947, 2013:4.802
ABSTRACT:
InfoBase Index Plants have been introduced in new places for centuries. Species are
2015:4.56
introduced for the purpose of benefiting agriculture and horticulture. A
Cosmos Impact Factor
2015: 4.366 proportion of these species have subsequently spread into new areas and
some have reached pest status. These plants spread rapidly and cause harm
Received on:
18th May 2018 to other species, communities or entire ecosystem. In places where
Revised on: introduced plants have become established, they can dominate the native
24th May 2018
Accepted on: flora and in cases drive native species to extinction, thus turning insidious.
24th May 2018 Because of the damage they cause, many scientists are working to slow
Published on:
down the spread of invasive species. Biological invasions are now
1st June 2018
Volume No. considered as one of the main threats to the world’s biodiversity. Many such
Online & Print plants have invaded in Gujarat as well. In some instances, the problem is so
100 (2018)
Page No. serious that our state requires a concerted effort by all scientists concerned
72 to 89 to initiate control programs.
Life Sciences Leaflets is
an international open KEY WORDS: Invasive Plant, Insidious, Hazard, Gujarat.
access print & e
journal, peer reviewed, INTRODUCTION:
worldwide abstract In ancient Indian literatures, it is written that every plant on this earth is
listed, published every
month with ISSN, RNI useful for human beings, animals and also for other plants. Thus, every plant
Free- membership, on the planet is a treasure for the entire living race. But some plants also
downloads and access. show negative impacts on the environment and the global bio-diversity.
Such plants have been the focus of environmentalists due to their undesired

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impact on the ecosystem. One group of plants under this category is the invasive plants (Insidious
plants).
‘Insidious’ is a word with several interpreted meanings. There has also been considerable confusion
and misuse of multiple terminologies. The word INSIDIOUS is synonymous with INVASIVE.
‘Invasion’ refers to concepts like aggression, assault, attack, encroachment, incursion, infringement,
intrusion, onslaught, the combination of both the species characteristics and the ecological characters.
Insidious plants are those that spread rapidly and cause harm to other species, communities or entire
ecosystem. In places where introduced plants have become established, they can dominate the native
flora and in cases drive native species to extinction, thus turning insidious. Because of the damage
they cause, many scientists are working to slow down the spread of invasive species.
Insidious plants are those that spread rapidly and cause harm to other species, communities or entire
ecosystem. In places where introduced plants have become established, they can dominate the native
flora and in cases drive native species to extinction, thus turn insidious. In places where invasive
plants have become established, they can dominate the native flora and in cases drive species to
extinction. Because of the damage they cause, many scientists are working to slow down the spread of
invasive species.

METHODOLOGY:
INVADED REGIONS OF GUJARAT:

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Invasive woody plant species are listed according to habit and degree of invasiveness also. The
information included below has been extracted from a more extensive database and literature review
(Table 1).

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

SOME HAZARDOUS PLANTS:

Lantana camara L.
 Lantana camara L. is such insidious plant, whom IUCN (International Union for the
Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) has considered one among the 10 most harmful
weeds in the world.
 This species has been nominated as among 100 of the “World’s Worst” invaders by ISSG
(Invasive Species Specialist Group).
 Native to tropical regions of the America.
 It is a significant weed of which there are some 650 varieties in over 60 countries or island
groups.
Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) Dc
 This legume tree is native to the Piura Desert, Peru.
 It was introduced to India in 1877 (Sind) and, later on, in many parts of the country, including
Karnataka, Punjab, Agra, Delhi and other areas.
 It was brought to Gujarat by the princely rulers of Radhanpur to check the spread of the Little
Rann of Kachchh.
Parthenium hysterophorus L.
 Parthenium hysterophorus L. is one of the ten worst weeds in the world.
 It is one of the worst weeds for agriculture, environment and human health.
 It is native to Mexico and USA.
 It was accidentally introduced in India in around 1956 and has since spread over most part of
the country.
 This plant has been declared a weed of national significance in Australia and India
Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms-Laub
 It is native of South America.
 Reported as a weed in 56 countries (Holm et al. 1979).
 Grows at explosive rates exceeding any other tested vascular plant (Mc Donald et al, 1991)
 Doubles its populations in as little as 6-18 days

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Hazards:
Lantana camara L.
 It is encroaching agricultural land, reducing carrying capacity of pastures and is a weed in
agricultural crops; its spiny nature hinders access to natural and agricultural areas.
 In disturbed native forests it can become the dominant under storey species, disrupting
succession and decreasing biodiversity.
 It causes poisoning in cattle and sheep.
 Its large dry biomass increases fire susceptibility.
 No quick remedy to control its spread on local environments can be formulated.
Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) Dc.
 Its invasion is causing adverse effects on the Sardar Sarover dam.
 It causes problems for cattle eating its seed pods by dislocating their jaws, thus reducing
grazing efficiency (Solanki, 2009).
 The cows are very susceptible to wounds caused by the thorns of gando bawal.
 Livestock avoids the leaves of P. juliflora, which seem to contain some toxic substance.
 The pollen may cause allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, and/or hypersensitivity pneumonitis
(Lewis and Elvin-Lewis, 1977).
 Its poisoning may induce a permanent impairment of the ability to digest cellulose (Kingsbury,
1964).
Parthenium hysterophorus L.
 The concept of `One year seeding, seven years weeding' is true for Parthenium.
 Parthenium is a curse for the bio-diversity.
 It causes contact dermatitis in livestock and is reported to be poisonous to sheep.
 Humans are also affected by this weed with respiratory malfunction and dermatitis. The main
toxin responsible for the effect is “Parthenin”.
 Up to 10% of people living in Parthenium weed areas in India suffer from allergic rhinitis and
sinusitis (hay fever) (Towers and Subba Rao 1992).
Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms-Laub
 It is a vigorously growing aquatic weed that damages, water quality by blocking sunlight and
oxygen and slowing river flows.
 In forms large mats on the water surface and degrades water quality thus dramatically altering
native plant and animal communities

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MANAGEMENT
 Being such widespread weeds, their control has been a major focus of land managers
worldwide.
 However, because these plants’ have variability and plasticity, most control schemes have
failed or have been too expensive to be implemented
 Mechanical control can be locally effective, particularly where land is cleared, but is labour
intensive whilst chemical control is expensive.
 With both methods treated areas are rapidly recolonized by seedlings and stems as well as
roots freely copied and follow-up treatments are required.
 After establishment its eradication is impossible and if this pest is to be kept under some
degree of check, biological control is the only option.
 Preventing seed production is a very important step in managing off. Removing flower heads
prior to seed set will greatly reduce the number of seeds released into the seed bank, as well as
reducing the number of seeds available for spread by birds or other animals.
 Homeowners can also help prevent their spread by removing plants from their landscape, and
not purchasing plants from garden centres.
PUBLIC PERSPECTIVE:
 Some local people are blaming Lantana for the disappearance of large trees.
 Its horticultural benefits were soon forgotten and its drawbacks became more important when
the plants started to overcome grasslands, fields and home gardens.
 All local people of Junagadh and Pavagadh agreed that the plant has been spreading like wild
fire.
 They broadly agreed that it transforms productive land into Lantana scrub, prevents grass
growth and is unpalatable to animals.
 Nowadays nobody wants Lantana camara and all people perceive it as a mortal threat to the
maintenance of their local community
 The older generations say that they have suffered from massive deforestation and Prosopis
became the only source of fuel wood for the local people.
 Negative perception of local people is as follows:
o It colonizes agricultural land and is hard to remove
o Its thorns cause dangerous infections,
o The thorns play havoc with bicycle tires,
o The leaves are unappealing to goats,
o In its shade, no grass or crop will grow.

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 In some situations, landholders and other workers are forced to move from the district or cease
their normal activities.
 Contaminated water caused diseases and provided breeding grounds for malaria carrying
mosquitoes.
Water contaminated by Eichhornia emits bad odour and troubles the people residing near the invaded
water body.

CONCLUSION:
The conservation of biodiversity depends on a satisfactory answer to the following questions: -
 Has the species or related species being reported as invasive elsewhere?
 What set of attributes make a species, invasive and/or a particular ecosystem/community
susceptible to invasion?
 Can we predict which species will be invasive and/or which ecosystem or community will
be invaded?
It is now essential that data on wild array of species and ecosystem attributes should be collected in a
systematic fashion. This requires a concerted effort by all scientists concerned (Binggeli, 1994; 1997).

REFERENCES:
Anonymous, (1996). Biological Diversity of Gujarat. Gujarat Ecological Commission.

Binggeli Pierre (1997). The ecology of invasive alien plants. Poster presented at the International
Conference, Berlin, October 1997.

Binggeli, P. (1994). The misuse of terminology and anthropometric concepts in the description of
introduced species. Bulletin of British Ecological Society. 25: 10-13

Cooke T. (1908). The flora of the Presidency of Bombay. Vols. - I, II & III.London. (B.S.I. reprinted
in 1958, Vols. I, II, & III, Calcutta).

Craig Walton, Department of Natural Resources, Queensland, Australia & IUCN/SSC Invasive
Species Specialist Group (ISSG).

Gamit Sandip B., Maurya, Rupesh R., Umerfaruq M. Qureshimatva, and Solanki Hitesh A. (2015).
Check list of Flowering Plants in Tapi District, Gujarat, India. International Journal of
Advanced Research. 3(10): 1104 -1123.

Holm L. G., Doll, E, Holm, E., Pancho, J. V. and Herberger, J. P. (1997). World weeds: natural
histories and distributions.New York. Wiley.

Ken Fern (2008). Plants for a future: Edible, medicinal and useful plants for a healthier world.
html:\weed uses\plants.php.html

Kingsbury (1964). Poisonous plants of the United States and Canada. Prentice-Hall, Inc. Englewood
Cliffs, NJ.

Lewis and Elvin-Lewis (1977). Medical Botany. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

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Mc donald et al (1991). Effects of alien plant invasions on native vegetation. Environ. Conserv. 18,51-
61.

Oudhia P. (1999). Medicinal weeds in groundnut fields of Chhattisgarh.Arachis Newsletter. 19: 62 –

64.

Patel Dilip D. and Solanki Hitesh A. (2013). Weed flora of Valsad District. Lifescience Leaflets.
66:109-126.

Qureshimatva U. M., Maurya R. R., Gamit, S.B. and Solanki, H. A. (2016). Check List of Flowering
Plants in Panchmahal District, Gujarat, India. Forest Research. 5:176. doi:10.4172/2168-
9776.1000176.

Rao S. et al (1956). Parthenium: A new record for India. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 54:218-220.

Shah, G. L. (1978). Flora of Gujarat State. Vol. I and Vol II, Sardar Patel University,Charotar
Vidyamandal, Vallabh Vidyanagar.

Sharma O. P. (1989). Toxicity of isolated lantana constituents to male and female guinea pigs. Vet.
Hum. Toxicol. 31:10–13.

Solanki, H. A. (2009). Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC Firewood Plant of Kachchh District: A Case
Study. In: Proceedings of 96th Indian Science Congress, Silong.

Sutaria, R. N. (1963). A Text Book of Systematic Botany. Khadayta Book Depot, Ahmedabad.

Towers, G. H. N. and Subba Rao, P. V. (1992). Impacts of The Pan-Tropical weed Parthenium
hysterophorus L.on human affairs. In: Proceeding of 1st International Weed Control Congress.
Melbourne (Ed. R. G. Richardson). PP: 134 – 138.

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PHOTO PLATE:

Lantana camara at Wilson Hill, Dharampur Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) Dc. Very Comon

Parthenium hysterophorus L. Parthenium hysterophorus L. Near Amreli

Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms-Laub Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms-Laub

Encroaching entire Pond

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Table 1: Check List of Insidious (Invasiv) plants from Gujarat

Scientific Common Family Habit Occurrence Remark Uses

Name Name in Gujarat (Shah, 1978)
Acacia Austrelian Mimosaceae Tree Many parts of Planted for beautification It adversely affects the soil
auriculiformis Baval Gujarat and degrades fertility
Cunn. ex Benth.
Acalypha ciliata Dadari Euphorbiaceae Herb Throughout Weed in moist ground Provides grazing for Donkeys
Forsk. Sheep, goats etc.
Acanthospermum -- Asteraceae Herb Throughout Spreading Used for treatment of
hispidum DC. rheumatism
Alysicarpus RuchhaloSamer Febaceae Tall Herb Throughout Weed along Roads and It is potent medicine against
sclerous vo railway lines, in cultivated sclerosis.
(Rottle.ex.Spren fields and among grasses in
g.) Grah waste lands.
Amaranthus -- Amaranthacea Herb Throughout Road side weed The leaves are used as Bhaji.
tricolor L. e Whole plant is an astringent.
Amberboa Bhonyadandi Asteraceae Herb Throughout Weed in waste places and Used as a traditional
ramosa cultivated fields medicine.
(Roxb.)Jeffrey
Amischopacelus -- Commelinaceae Herb Dahej, Weed in Cultivated Fields --
cucullata (Roth.) Bharuch,
Rolla. Rajpipala
(South
Gujarat)
Chotaudepur,
and
Saurashtra
Anagallis -- Primulaceae Herb Throughout Weed in cultivated fields Leaves used in salad. The
arvensisi L. herb used for epilepsy, mental
problems, cures dropsy, skin
infections and disorders of
liver and gall bladder.
Anisomeles Chodharo Labiatae Shrub Throughout Road side Weed The flowers are ornamental.

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Scientific Common Family Habit Occurrence Remark Uses

Name Name in Gujarat (Shah, 1978)
heyneana Bth.
Antigonon -- Polygonaceae Climber Cultivated Naturalized Ornamental Plant
leptopus Hk. Throughout
Argemone Darudi Papaveraceae Herb Throughout Weed in waste places and Suitable for reclamation of
mexican L. cultivated fields alkaline soils, it is a green
manure containing N2, P and
K. Seed oil is used as an
illuminant,
Lubricant, in soap making,
and for protection from
termites.
Asphodelus Dungro Liliaceae Herb Throughout Weed in wasre places Roots are edible. The seed is
tenuifolius Cav. diuretic. Seeds applied to
externally to ulcers and
inflamed parts of the body.
The seed oil is used for
preventing atherosclerosis
Basella rubra L. Poi Basellaceae Herb Cultivated Naturalized Leaves are edible. Red dye is
Throughout obtained from the fruits.
Biophytum Risamnu Oxalidance Herb Throughout Weed in cultivated fields It’s a green house plant.
sensitivum (L.) (fern) the shaded Recent reseachel show its
DC. areas potential against lung cancer.
Brassica Sarsav Brassicaceae Herb North Gujarat Wee in cultivated Fields The leaves are eaten.
compestris L. Edible oil is obtained from
the seed.
Brassica nigra Brassicaceae Herb Throughout Weed in waste places The seed is source of
(L.) Koch commercial table- mustard,
used as condiment and
medicine. Mustard oil is used
to stimulate hair growth.
Cenchrus Motu Dharamnu Poaceae Herb Throughout Troublesome weed Used as food and fodder
biflorus Roxb.
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Scientific Common Family Habit Occurrence Remark Uses

Name Name in Gujarat (Shah, 1978)
Cenchrus Dhamnu Poaceae Herb Throughout Common It is fodder for Ships
setigerus Vahl.
Ceperus -- Cyperaceae Herb Throughout Weed in cultivated fields and Pest of dried tuber is applied
tenuispina except drying moist ground on breast of women to secrete
Steud. Kachchh and of women to more milk and
Saurashtra applied on bitten site of
scorpion
Chenopodium ChilniBhaji Chenopodiacea Herb Throughout Weed in cultivated fields Leaves are edible and are
album L. e substitute to spinach. It is also
used as a laxative and fodder
for used in Jaundice and
urinary problem. Oil
extracted from seeds is used
as an intestinal worm killer.
Chrozophora Kalookharad Euphorbiaceae Herb Throughout Weed in drying moist grounds Used in folk medicines.
rottleri (Geis) and cultivated fields
Juss.
Cichorium Chikory Asteraceae Herb Chhota Weed in waste places The leaves are edible. Roots
intybus L. Udepur, and leaves are used as an
Pavagadh and appetizer, depuratived,
Vallabh digestive,
Vidyanagar diuretic,hypoglycaemic,
laxative and tonic. Roots used
for treating jaundice, liver
enlargement gout and
rheumatism.
Citrullus Indravarna Cucurbitaceae Herb Throughout Weed in waste places and Fruits and roots used in
colocynthis (L.) cultivated fields jaundice, fever, dropsy,
Schrad coughs and bronchitis.Seed
oil used for snake bite and
scorpion sting
Cleome -- Capparidaceae Herb -- Weed in moist ground Whole plant is used as fodder

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Scientific Common Family Habit Occurrence Remark Uses

Name Name in Gujarat (Shah, 1978)
chelidonii L.
Colocasia -- Araceae Herb Cultivated Wild in Waste places The plant is edible, styptic,
esculenata (L.) Asrigent.
Schott.
Corchorus -- Tiliaceae Herb Throughout Weed in cultivated fields It is an agri-horticultural plant
fascicularis that yields fiber.
Lam.
Corono Brassicaceae Herb Jamnagar Weed in cultivated fields. Leaves are eaten raw or
pusdidymus (L.) (saurashtra) cooked.
Sm. Kadi(North
Gujarat) and
Vallabh
Vidyanagar
(Central
Gujarat)
Cryptostegia Rubber vel Periplocaceae Woodyclimb Throughout Naturalized Root used as antidote for
grandiflora R. er scorpion and nake bite.
Cucumis callosus Kothimdu Asteraceae Herb Throughout Weed in waste places and Paste of root is applied on
(Rottl.) Cogn. cultivated fields scorpion sting; root decoction
is given in
indgestion,dropsy.Fruit pulp
is given to women for
abortion and to increase
menses.
Desmodium Pandaryo Febaceae Herb Throughout Weed in cultivated Grown as forage crop.
dichotomum Samervo fields,along road sides,railway
(Klein ex wild.) lines and in forest under
DC. growth
Echhornia Kanphutti Pontederiaceae Herb South and Abundant in Ponds and Ornamental and Heavy metal
crassipes (Mart.) Central Ditches Scavenger
Solms. Gujarat
Eruca sativa Sarso Brassicaceae Herb Ambhata near Weed in Used in salad seed oil has
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Scientific Common Family Habit Occurrence Remark Uses

Name Name in Gujarat (Shah, 1978)
Mill. Dehaj Garden many medicinal properties.
Eucalyptus Nilgiri Myrtaceae Tall tree Throughout Spreading and invading Yields oil of commercial
globules Labill importance.
Euphorbia -- Euphorbiaceae Herb Saurashtra,No Weed in cultivated fieds and It is used to cure
clarkena HK. rth Gujarat, drying moist grounds and spermatorrhoea and mouth
cambay And cultivated fields blisters.
Bharuch
Euphorbia -- Euphorbiaceae Herb Many parts of Naturalized as road side weeds Used in to cure the irritation
geniculata Ort. Gujarat in the ears
Euphorbia -- Euphorbiaceae Herb Throughout Weed in cultivated fields Decoction and its paste are
prostrate Alt. used against fungi causing
skin diseases especially in
ringworm. Used in chronic
fevers, abdominal diseases
and as a nerve tonic and
blood purifier.
Euphorbia -- Euphorbiaceae Herb Throughout Weed in cultivated fields Used in anthelmintic and
thymifolia L. bowel affections of children.
Euphorbia Kharsani thor Euphorbiaceae Herb Throughout Naturalized as a hedge plant The latex used for poisoning
tirucalli L. fish.
Gomphrena -- Amaranthacea Herb Throughout Common everywhere Used against Malaria.
celosioides Mart. e
Heliotripum -- Boraginaceae Herb Mansa(north Weed in cultivated fields Used in the treatment of boils
ellipticum Ledeb Gujarat)and ,ulcers and and bites of
Kutch snakes and mad dog.
Hibiscus -- Malvaceae Tallherb Surat,Bharuc Weed in cultivated Seeds contains oil and protein
panduriformis h, fields
Burm. Rajpipla,Panc
hmahals,
Ahmedabad,
Talod and
Saurashtra
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Scientific Common Family Habit Occurrence Remark Uses

Name Name in Gujarat (Shah, 1978)
Ipomoea NaliniBhaji Convolvulacea AquaticHerb Throughout Very common in ponds and It is used as a tonic for
aquatica Forsk. e ditches lactating women and also
cures many feminine
diseases. Generally used for
chronic constipation.
Jatropha -- Euphorbiaceae Herb Throughout Naturalized as a roadside weed Bio-fuel prepared from the
gossypifolia L. plant. Used as laxatives, in
curing of Cancer, diarrhoea,
dysentery, skin diseases
(Leprosy), Arthritis, Ulcer,
Gum infection, and wound
healing. Seed oil is used in
rheumatism and paralytic
affection.
Lantana camara Yellow Sage Verbenaceae Shrub Throughout Weed in everywhere Wood in an excellent
L. alternative for making
furniture. Ripened seeds are
edible and have many
medicinal plants.
Lapidium Asalio Brassicaceae Herb -- Weed in cultivated fields Used in Salad, seed oil is
sativum L. edible.
Leucaena Acacia palida Mimosaceae Large shrub Throughout Spreading in vacant lands The wood is used as a fire
leucocephala Subaval wood and timber.
(Lam.) De.
Lindernia -- Scrophulaceae Herb Throughout Weed in cultivated fields Used as fodder.
parviflora
(Roxb.)Haines
Linum -- Linaceae Herb Bharuch(Sout Weed in Waste places Seed oil reduces cholesterol
usitatissimum h Gujarat), and is useful for only
(L.) DC. Tuwa( central skin,acne and eczema.High
Gujarat), vitamin E level makes it
Himatnagar( useful for preventing scarring

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Scientific Common Family Habit Occurrence Remark Uses

Name Name in Gujarat (Shah, 1978)
North and Stretch marks.
Gujarat),
Saurashtra
and kutch
Ludwigia Onagraceae Herb Throughout Weed in cultivated fields The plant is used in toothache
perennis L. and fever.
Ludwigia Panlavang Onagraceae Herb Throughout Weed in cultivated fields A plant with medicinal value.
sessiliflora
(mich.)Raven
Martyia annua Vinchudo Martyniaceae Herb Throughout Weed in waste places To remove lice from animal
L. bodies.
Medicago -- Febaceae Herb Mansa(North Weed in cultivated fields A nitrogen fixing plants.
laciniata All. Gujarat)
Nelumbo Motu Kamal Nynphaeaceae Aquatic Throughout -- The seeds and rhizomes are
nucifera in ponds eaten. The pods contains
Gaertn alkaloids that stop bleeding
Parthenium Congress grass Asteracaea Herb Throughout Highly spreading and invasive Its compost is good for
hysterophorus L. maintaining soil properties. It
has stimulating activity used
for flue repellent. The
decoration of plant is used in
dysentery.
Phyllanthus Bakarato Euphorbiaceae Herb Throughout Weed in cultivated fields Used to treat Headache,
maderaspatensis Bronchitis, Earache, and
L. Ophthalmia. Power of dried
plant mixed with milk to treat
Jaundice.
Plantago Jiralo Plantaginaceae Herb Mansa (North Weed in cultivated fields The mucilange in the seed
psyllium L. Gujarat) and coat is used as a stabilizer in
Vallabh ice cream; chocolate etc. the
Vidyanagar plant is used as laxative and
(Central cures many intestinal
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Scientific Common Family Habit Occurrence Remark Uses

Name Name in Gujarat (Shah, 1978)
Gujarat) problems.
Polycarpaea -- Caryophyllace Herb Throughout Weed in waste places and The plants is used as fodder
corymbosa ae cultivated fields and the roots are soil binders.
(L.)Lam
Polycarpaea -- Caryophyllace Herb -- Weed in drying most ground A plant of ethnomedical
corymbosa ae importance;
(Forsk.) A & S. Used against jaundice.

Prosopis juliflora Gando Baval Mimosaceae Small Throughout Spreading and invading Excellent fuel wood and is
(Sw.)DC. tree the source of livelihood of
many villagers in Gujarat.
Pulicaria crispa -- Asteraeae Woodyherb Savli(near Weed in waste places river Herb cures ring-worm and
Sch.-Bip Baroda), beds and cultivated fields posses anti venom properties.
Vallabh
Vidyanagar,pl
aces of north
Gujarat like
mahudi,Pahad
a,Idar and
also in Lutch
Ratala indica -- Lythraceae herb Dharampur,D Weed in cultivated fields Leaf paste in traditionally
(Wild.) Koehn angs,Chikli used for treating boils.
and Surat
Rorippa indica -- Brassicaceae Herb Throughout Weed in moist ground Leaves used as vegetable.
(L.) Hiren
Scirpus -- Cyperaceae Herb Throughout Weed in Cultivated fields Dried stems used for making
lateriflorus mats and baskets. Tubers are
Gmel. used as laxative and also
edible. It is diuretic and stops
diarrhoea. The plant is green
manure in peddy fields.
Scoparia dulcis -- Scrophulaceae Shrub In many parts Road side weed Leaves are used in treatment
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Scientific Common Family Habit Occurrence Remark Uses

Name Name in Gujarat (Shah, 1978)
L. of fever, cough, bronchitis
and dental trouble.Leaves and
stems are used for diabete.
Sesbania Ikad Febaceae Shrub Throughout Weed in cultivated fields and It is used for food,fodder,fuel,
bispinosa (Jacq.) moist places fiber,Gum,Medicine,reclamat
W.F. ion, nitrogen fixing, soil
improvement and
intercropping.
Solanum nigrum Piludi Solanaceae Herb Throughout Weed in everywhere Fruits are used to cure piles
L. and leprosy.
Solanum Bhoyringni Solanaceae Herb Throughout Weed in everywhere The plant and its fruits have
surattense Burm. anticancer, antiviral and
spermicidal activities; it
stimulates the cardiovascular
system and is used as an
expectorant and carminative.
Sonchus -- Asteraeae Tall Saurashtra Weed in waste places Leaves,steam and roots are
brachyouts DC. herb and Nort andcultivated fields edible.
Gujarat
Spergula -- Caryophyllace Herb Abundant in Weed in cultivated Seed is cooked and is rich in
arvensis L. ae place of fields oil, plant used as diuretic.
occurrence
Spergula -- Caryophyllace Herb Naka kalol Weed in The plant has medicinal and
vernalis Wild. ae (North Cultivated fields ornamental uses.
Gujarat)
And Anand
(Central
Gujarat)
Stemodia viscosa -- Scrophulaceae Herb Throughout Weed in cultivated fields The leaves are used as
Roxb. binding material due to their
stickiness.
Tarmarix troupii -- Tarmaricaceae Tree Kutch, Gregarious A medical plant.
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 Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online)

Scientific Common Family Habit Occurrence Remark Uses

Name Name in Gujarat (Shah, 1978)
Hole. Saurashtra, N. And spreading
Gujarat and
S.
Gujarat(Surat)
Tragia -- Euphorbiaceae Shrub Valsad, Road Side weed ---
hilderbrandtii Bharuch,
Muell. Rajpipla and
Saurasthra
Vaccaria Vaccari Caryophyllace Herb -- Weed in Cultivated fields and
pyranmidata ae waste lands
Medic.
Vahila digyna PiloAgio Vahilaceae Herb Throughout Weed in cultivated fields and It is an Agri-
(retz.) O. drying moist ground horticulturalplant.
Verbascum Kalhar Scrophulaceae Herb Throughout Weed in waste places
chinense
(L.)Santapsau.
Vernonia Kalljiri Asteraceae Tall herb Valsad,Danga Weed in cultivated fields and Seeds are used as
anthelminitica ,Vyara,Rajpip open waste lands anthelmintic and purgative.
(L.) Willd la,Chota Sometimes used externally
Udepur, for skin diseases.
cambay and
Saurashtra
Vicia sativa L. -- Febaceae Climbing Chhota Weed in cultivated fields Its seeds have antiseptic
herb Udepur forest properties.
division
Vicoa indica (l.) Sonasali Asteraceae Under Shrub Throughout Weed in cultivated fields and Plant decoction is used for
DC. waste lands sterilization in women.
Zizyphus -- Rhamnaceae Small tree Throughout Spreading in waste places Have many medical uses.
glabrata
Hyne.

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