P. Juliflora
Prospois juliflora is a kind of mesquite, a leguminous plant genera that contains symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules. A commonly found plant in Latin countries, it has been widely used to control soil erosion and deforestation, for use in firewood and as fodder for ungulates and herbivores.
For meeting the below objectives, the same plant has been introduced to certain Asian and African countries including India.
- To check desertification, drought and soil erosion, and to further enrich the soil.
- To provide for firewood, and fodder
- To increase or improve the habitat for wild animals.
The characteristic feature of this plant is that it is summer active and can grow in arid to semi-arid lands where every other plant failed to thrive. Having a high proline (alpha amino acid) content, and having the ability to anchor roots deep into the ground, to draw water as well, the plant survives under the most stressful conditions.
It was introduced in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan under various projects for reforestation of coastal areas (in Tamil Nadu) and semi-arid lands (of Rajasthan). Rajasthan, in fact, has undertaken the Aravali Afforestation Project, with funding support, of a hundred crore Rupees, from Japan.
This plant species though has shown excellent results in meeting the objectives with which it was introduced, it was proven that the plant has now become presumptuous and declared an invasive species for the below reasons.
- Owing to its adaptability and survival abilities, the plant colonizes, spreads and dominates very easily destroying the pastoral grasslands.
- With deeper reaching roots, it further escalates the water crisis issues, by further lowering the water table. Also, because of its water and moisture drawing abilities, it leaves the area dry wherever the plant exists thus destroying the native plants.
- It forms a dense thicket of low lying branches, infested with thorns that prevents movement of larger animal species.
- The removal of this plant is labor intensive as it can regenerate from roots, and hence efforts in that direction have proved futile.
The plant has spread extensively in tiger reserves such as Ranthambore. The forest department has long since been trying to eradicate this species but has met with minimal success. The plant can do much harm to the soft hooves of ungulates and the soft pads of tigers and leopards.