Lantana camara : Morphology ,Uses - INDIAN FORESTRY

Taxonomy
Lantana camara      
Scientific name              -           lantana
                                                    Camara
Higher classification     -          lantana
Rank                                -          Species

                   DISCRIPTION 

 LANTANA CAMARA is a low erect or subscandent , vigorous  shrub with stout recurved prickles  and a strong odour of blacks currents.
     
                   GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
Lantana is present in many pactic island nation on Pacific rim it occurrs in Australia , Newzealand , China , Thailand  , Indonesia  and India.
   
                   DANGEROUS /POISONOUS
  Warning  pets have reportedly become ill after injesting lantana , the unripe berries are known to be very toxic and the foliage toxic to livestock.
            
                   MEDICINAL USES
LANTANA CAMARA leaves are boiled and applied for swelling and pain of the body. Its bark is astringent and used as a lotion in cutiginous eruption, leprous ulcers.

                     STATUS 

LANTANA  is listed as a category | invasive exotic specie by the Florida exotic pest plant council , which means that it is known to be invading disrupting native plant.

                     INDIGENOUS PRACTICES
Lantana camara is grown as hedge plant its stalks are used as raw material for paper pulp which used for wrapping , writing and printing paper.
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By M.S. Khan
Photo Credits - Ashutosh Lohani.

ENTOMOLOGY : Black tailed skimmer (Dragon fly) - Concise Study.

BLACK-TAILED SKIMMER (DRAGON FLY)

  

Scientific Name - Orthetrum cancellatum

CLASSIFICATION :-

KINGDOM - ANIMALIA

PHYLUM -    ARTHROPODA

CLASS     -     INSECTA

ORDER  -       ODONATA

FAMILY  -      LIBELLULIDAE 

The Black-tailed skimmer has an undoubtedly large splendour.

Shown above.Is an adult male.

With it's Characteristic Blue abdomen. Black tip,and transparent wings.

While female has yellow abdomen,black tip and transparent wings. females oviposits alone but with male in attendance and the Eggs are laid in flight by dipping abdomen onto water surface.The females hatch after 5 or 6 weeks and with the help of bottom debris,it's larvae remains partially hidden,and they mostly takes 2 to 3 years for the emergence. Also,

With age, The adult males extensively develop Blue puinescence on their abdomen.

DISTRIBUTION :   Orthetrum cancellatum (Dragon fly) is a widespread European species,But it also occurs from central Asia to the northern parts of China and Arunachal Pradesh in India. HABITAT : Orthetrum cancellatum is found mainly in the following areas :- 1. Marshy Areas 2. Ponds 3. Slow-rivers. and if you're lucky you may get an opportunity for sighting the female dragon fly,as it's said to be less confident and not as bold as it's male counter part.

- By Ashutosh Lohani Photo Credits - Alok Gupta.